The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-17

way. Thus Alabama makes a gain OF about
90 per cent. In population in the last ton
years and over three times as much in pub.
lie school enrolment. In Arkansas the fig
| ures are respectively 40 and 1876; In Florida
they are 45 and Ill; in Georgia, 10 and A;
in Kentucky, IS and 80; in Louisiana. 10 and
50; In Mississippi, IA and 4S: In North Caro-
lima, Is and 81; in South Carolina, l6 and 81 /;
in Tennessee, Is and Sc; in Texas, 40 and
1888; in Virginia, Q and 5j So 1t IL obvious
that the rule OF greater gain In public school
enrolment than in population is still more
marked In the South than the opposite rule
Is In the North III fact, there are no excep-
lions to 1t whatever.
Or course difference 80 great has at
tracted the attention OF the Bureau OF Edu-
cation, and has caused from time to time
study and speculation as to its cause. The
easier part of the problem Is to account for
the greater gain OF the South. Here we have
tho fact to begin with that over since the
close OF the civil war there have been great
accessions TO the number OF pupils by the
extension OF education to the colored popu-
lation. There have been other changes also
IN the Industrial and social system ut the
South which have benefited tho public
school system. The Commissioner OF Educa.
ton has also pointed out in one This reports
that many Of the existing public schools OF
the South were In operation twenty years
ago as private schools; and another element
In the case he thinks to bs an excess OF
children Of school ago in tho South But
1t is to be noted that In that part OF the
country the school gain during the last ten
years has been relatively less than in the ten
years preceding. That is to say, In the
States forming the South Atlantic division
the percentage OF population enrolled as
public school pupils more than doubled be-
tween 1870 and 1884 but increased proper.
tlonally much less from 1880 to 1890. Tho
same was substantially true OF the States in
the South Central division. But 1t was easy
to double on 80 small basis OF enrolment
as that Of 1870 by increased attention to tho
school system. Very likely the year 1900
may show further falling off in the proper
ton Of gain for tho South.
As to the Northern States. tho Commits
sioner Of Education could only account in
his last report, for what he called the retro.
gade movement. "by the increase OF private
and parochial schools. and by the tendency
to refrain from sending children to school at
as early an age as heretofore. whereby the
number OF very young pupils Is diminished"
He also found that the falling Off of ENROLL
ment in the Northern States "has been
nearly counterbalanced by the increased
regularity OF attendance OF those who are
enrolled, SO that about as large proportion
Of the population attend school daily as in
1870" The Commissioner, however, did not
undertake to account more than partially
for the results shown in tho statistics by the
suggestions just mentioned. Probably
careful study OF the growth o! the private
ard parochlal schools and Of the regulations
for changing school ages in different States
would be needed for tracing with precision
their influence on public school enrollments.