The morning call., 1891-12-25
SCHOOL FIGURES.

The census bulletin on education will put
a stop to the o!d-time talk about illiteracy
at the South, and will prevent the birth Of
more schemes like Senator Bairs for the
establishment of schools in the Southern
States at the expense OF the General Govern
ment Perhaps in some measure, in conse-
QueEce of the discredit brought upon the
South by its neglect of education, the South
eIn people have besiirred themselves since
1880 in establishing schools in every State;
and now we are confronted with the singu-
lar fact that while the enrolment Of school
pupils is actually declining as compared with
that of 1880 in such New England States as
New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. and
is increasing very slightly in Indiana, Hi
nois aad Ohio, it has marvclously increased
in every Southern State. In some of these
the gain in school enrolment Is really sur
prisiug.
Alabama, with a gain Of nearly 20 in
population, shows a gain in school enroll
ment of 81 per cent; Arkansas a gain
of LOG ger cent, against 10 per cent gain in
population; Florida 10 per cent, against
A; Georgia IL per cent, against 10; Ken
lucky 50 per cent. against II; Louisiana 53,
against 10; Mississippi As, against Ii North
Carolina y, against Is; South Carolina 81,
against 10; Tennessee 56, against IA; Texas
155, against 40; Virginia 5j, against 9. The
meaning of this is that the old prejudice
against schooling, which was one of the
cGncom itants of slavery. has died out, and
that the Southern people have walked up to
the necessity Of promoting education. The
meaning of that is that the ignorant white
and the ignorant negro will disappear in the
next generation, and that citizens at the
South will divide on public questions as
citizens do at the North.
1t is gratifying TO observe that in some
Southern States the colored race are being
educated nearly as religiously as the white
race. In Georgia, for instance, there are
l33,232 colored pupils to 2O9, $50 white pu-
pills; in Al hama there are 116 155 eolored
pupils to 1S6, 794 white pupils In the bor-
der States the two races do not compare so
favor ably. Kentucky has So, 9j5 white piI-
pills enrolled and only 4,612 eolored; Mis-
S uri has only 2.S04 coiored TO 5S7. 80 whits
pupils, and the diSprOportion is nearly as
great in Tennessee. 1t may perhaps Be ex-
cuSed by the fact that in Indiana, which
contains a pretty considerable negro popu-
lation, there do not seem to be any negro
pupils at all.
The largest percentages of gain in school
enrolment are found, Of course, in the new
CldttcJ lub wv DdhOtdo, MGulhnh anu
Idaho. When the last census was taken
there were few. if any, schools in these ter
ritories, which have since become States.
In some of the oldest States school enroll
ment does not keep pace with population.
Mas ,achusetts gained % per cent III popu-
laton, but the school enrollmentonly gained
II per cent. New York gained IS per cent
in population and only /. IS in school enroll
mont PpppSVlyanip gained nparly
cent in population and only / 50 in school
enrolment New Jersey gained p in pop
ulation and only IA in school enrolment. 1t
must be assumed that large proportion of
the new population consisted of foreigners
who remained in cities or went to work In
mines and on railroads, and were Indifferent
to the education OF their children.
In this State population and education go
hand in hand. The census shows an in
crease OF 50 per cent in tie former and 81
per cent in the latter. Our people have al
WAYS been stanch believers in the common
school system, and wherever they pitch their
tents they set up schOol-house as a matter
OF course. Oregon does not show uo badly,
either. Its population is reported as having
increased 10 per cent during the last decade
and Its school enrolment 90 per cent.
Nevada is State which is declining in both
population aud schools. The former, how
ever, is declining faster than the latter, the
falling off in population being 20 per cent.
while the falling off in schools is only II. On
the other hand Arizona, which is popularity
supposed to be the exclusive dominion of
the festive cowboy, makes a very good
showing indeed With an increase of AZ per
cent in population, its school enrolment
has increased So per cent The school en-
rolment Of Utah shows a slightly smaller
percentage of increase than the population.