New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-13
NO MONEY FOR A CENSUS.
SUPERINTENDENT SKINNER WANTS
SCHOOL TEACHERS TO TAKE IT.

THAT MAY DO IN THE COUNTRY. But NOT IN
NEvyoRK-THE BOARD IN GUAM
DAIRY. FOR TIE Law REQUIRES
THAT TIE CENSUS SHALL BE
TAKEN-wHAT MR. MACLAY
AND MR.. JASPER SAY.
1ods,at,on at Albany has put the Board OF Edu-
cation IN an unfortunate predicament In regard 70
the biennial census ordered TO be made TOT 'ne
first time this month and hereafter IN the oc.o0rs
NJ every second year. over week ago ChdIies -
skinner the State Superintendent OF fuonc IN
structIon had a conversation with President ROBERT
,,acav and other members OF the Board OF Edu-
cation aud Superintendent John Jasper during
u,hch Mr. skinner suggested that the matter shou'u
he nut in charge Of superintendent Jasper anu
that the census in this city should De taken ~ ''
teachers OF the public schools -.
This course he suggested because there IS aDso
,rtelv no money appropriated or available for tax
ing the census which the legislature without pro-
vtding funds ordered should be made
The act requiring census to be nlaue pe.rn'e
law on May I. 1895. In effect 1t says II snaii o7
the duty OF the state Superintendent OF fupio ~"
s,r,ction to have a school census taken this DC
- and hereafter in every second year In &C.
.,a,r IN all towns and cities having population
., n 900 or inward This census Is to record 'ne
names and ages OF all persons between loui ''''
sixteen years old. the number OF persons !" '"O"
town or city between the ages OF '"e''e anu ~
tvone wears that are unable to read or write 'ne
number of persons four ana under riA'ee"
,aars old who do not attend school because '"eS
orc obliged TO work within school hours, ana inc
number who are attending other thah pun"
schools The law further says II shaH ne NV "D''
~ the common school authorities to ala the super
intendent in the work , .,.,r,,
Tho money required for the purpose Oh f'i'''"S
tho lar into effect is TO be paid by the towns anu
cries respectively. included In the provisions Va
the act and payment is TO be made LOT t"e 80
vice rendered In taking the census wheh t"e 80
SUPERINTENDENT shall certify that such census "'S
been satisfactorily taken .,o
Mr. skinner recently issued from Albany ho.'0e
asking that the census be taken between oc'oDe'
a and q and recommending that school teachers
no enploved as enumerators and that they shou''
he paid not less than 50 for each esht ho"IS Vi &C.
vice In doing this Mr.. skinner has put the "o' =
OF Education in quandary ana mas SNOW" ms
misunderstanding OF the result his pan "ou'n
bring about by requesting the Board OF Education
n incur cxpenses for taking the census amounting
to about s2 coo for which funds at all are avail
able and experimenting that request 10y s"n7''
ton that the public school teachers DE asKed 10 d'
AZ census-takers. Mr. Skinner said that the CENSUS
could be taken by the school teachers in the ru"i
districts and he thought II could be so taken mere
f-ndoubtedly in small cities, where there are 10
vicious districts and where the teacher Is Hke'y
to know many of the children personally 'nc'
could act as census-ta<ers without unpleasant eN-
periences: but in this city circumstances are "''-
ferent and the Board OF Education VIII not COM
pe delicate women to do work that would probably
bring them in most unpleasant contact with crime
filth and disease.
Again the time at the disposal Of the teachers
s limited. and other conditions prevailing here
make II mpracticabe for them TO attempt the task
that Mr.. Skinner would thrust upon them Robert
Macay president Of the Board of Education. said
| Mr. DrODOSal.
.orhe idea OF teachers doing this work is simply
preposterous and the Board does not feel called
upon 10 set its teachers at task that must
often prove obnoxious to them.
81 am determined that the census shall be taken
| In some way. the law requires just how II VIII
| be taken ! cannot say now | have correspondent
with the Police Board Corporation Counsel Scott.
Controller Fitch and other city officials about the
matter and there lots OF people worrying over
H. But ! am determined the census shall be tax n.