The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-15
The Argus Essays Statistics.

JlClb Ill VIC w AlChmAN W. WV hiSN |
textbook question was challenged to
present the proof of its sweeping asser- ,,
ton that the public schools of Massa-
chusetts are superior to those of Yer
mont Last week the bird emitted the
following scretd, prefacing its 'proof
with a choice aud original bit of sar-
casm:
We shall waste very little space in deal
ing with such asinine stupidity, 1t hurts one
80, as Horace Greeley said, to kick at moth
ing. But for the benefit of any who may
have been misled by the unveracious as
sumptions OF the Waterman, we quote few
figures by way of proof. Results are about
the best proof which can be produced of
the efficiency of schools. According to the
census of 1880, of the inhabitants of Massa-
chusetts between 10 and ID years old, IL
per cent were unable to read, while in Yer
mont the ratio SO per cent; In Massachu-
sets IL per cent were unable to write, and
in Vermont AZ. Between 10 and 20 years
34 per cent OF the inhabitants OF Massachu-
setts and AZ OF the inhabitants of Vermont
were unable to read, and "a per cent In
Massachusetts and 40 per cent in Vermont
were unable to write. OF all the native
| white persons In Massachusetts, 10 years old
and upward, OF per cent we're unable to
write, while in Vermont "a per cent OF the
native population could not write. This
ought to prove to q man of average under
standing that the school systems of Massa.
chusetts are superior to those OF Vermont,
| in so far that they educate greater proper
ton of the children. Whether or not 1t will
Impress the dense understanding Of the
Watchrsan is less clear.
We have a faint impression of hav-
ing previously seen some reference to
the aphorism which the jay, and some
other wits Of the baser sort, to give it
responsibility have ssddled on to the
historic parsonage of the old white hat.
Its later use--and particularly its stock
use by the Argus staff--has become
notorious as the last impotent foil of
imbecility at bay in newspaper tilt
So it is in this instance.
But how about the "proof?" Would
the compiler of the census tables of
illiteracy recognize his handiwork in
the alleged statistics quoted above?
Was the jays article "pied," and is
the intelligent compositor RESPONSE
BILE for this statistical melange? Or is
the tapgle the result of visual obliquity
superinduced by deep draughts of tam
glefoot? Probably the latter, combined
with certain moral infrmities or inca
"cities to deal fairly and honestly with
nd fact in a disputed matter.
'"gle the contemporaries fig
EN- in their proper juxta-
he statistical part of his
as follows;
to the census OF 1880, OF the
of Massachusetts between II
Jars old, IL per cent were unable
:, while in Vermont the ratio was 81
.ent; in Massachusetts, IL per cent o.
tte males betweep the ages Of 10 and IA year!
Sere unable to write, and in Vermont A.
Between Is and 20 years 4 per cent Of the
inhabitants of Massachusetts, and 40 pei
cent of the inhabitants OF Vermont were
unable to aorite, and "a per cent of the ,ohitt
males in Massachusetts, between Is and q
years, and A. per cent in Vermont were un
able to write.
The contemporaries citations from
The census of 1880, amended as indi
Gated by the words in italics, will bt
correct-so far as they go. His "proof )
7 resolves itself into few scanty figures
showing the capacity of certain classe.
J of school children to ,0ritei Conclusive
isn't it? Verify mountain of pettifog
ging has labored and brought forth 6
very diminutive mouse.
, Now what are the full comparative
> statistics Of illiteracy, and what do they
! prove? In Massachusetts, by the cen
r sus of 1880, So per cent of persons Of
ten years of age and upward were re
: turned as unable to read and 6.5 pei
cent as unable to write. In Vernon
4 8 per cent were returned as unable
to read and 6 per cent as unable tS
write. Tally one right here for Yer
: mont on the general average of hel
population above the apron-string age
In two of the rudimentary RS, at the
t fairest and most comprehensive poin
, of comparison, she leads Massach usett,
handsomely.
In Massachusetts 1.2 per cent Of
children from 10 to ID years were
, unable to write; in Vermont 6
. Kids of this class, of either sex, il
Massachusetts invariably lead Vermont
, IN the matter Of soriting, with which &C
, complishment alone the census figures
t deal. In the next class the margin i,
, narrowed down closely and at points
} wiped out entirely. In Massachusetts
, 3.4 per cent of the white boys anc
girls between Is and 20 were returned
as unable to write; in Vermont 40 pei
cent, In NJ lssachusetts "a ner cent nj