The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-26
ENUMERATE BY BLOCKS
THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL PURSUE A
NEW PLAN THIS YEAR.
Data Needed i'm Locating New Build
inSs-The RedfstrictinE on Ac-
count of ~nexatf

Arrangements are being made by the
finance committee of the School Board to
take the annual enumeration of minors of
the school age. Under the law the enum-
Grafton must be completed between April 10
and May 1 of each year. Just how the
enumeration will be made this year has not
yet been decided on, says Mr.. Blackledge,
chairman Of the committee. The committee
desires TO have the enumeration made this
year, so that it will show the school popula-
ton by blocks. This data is needed by the
beard in deciding on the location of new
buildings. The ordinary building holds four
hundred pupils. and as a general rule no
pupils are required to walk more than six
blocks in getting back and forth from
school, so that as a general proposition any
new school located twelve blocks from any
other school would be at about the correct
radius, but in some of the more densely
populated districts this average will not
hold good, and in locating schoolhouses i'm
the past it has been necessary for the board
to do a good deal of guess work as to where
they ought to be located so as TO be the
most accessible. All this trouble will be
eliminated when the population is given by
blocks.
Last year the enumeration was done by
districts. each enumerator having work ap-
portioned out to him. For his services he
received 81 a day. The work is supposed TO
be done by the county superintendeht. but
in reality it has been under the control of
the board in this city, as the work is paid
for out of the city general fund. Mr.. Black
ledge said that the plans the board had un-
der consideration will include the suburbs,
as there lis scarcely any doubt that they
will be annexed before the work begins.
Under the law each county receives from
the State a certain fund. dependent upon
its school population, and IL is for the pur-
pose of determining the number of minors
between six and twenty years OF age that
the enumeration is AIKEN so that the status
between the State and the county may be
determined. In this city, however. the pro-
portion of money received from the State is
less than that contributed.
Last year there were some peculiar dlfn-
culties experienced by enumerators. who
were met by all sorts of objections when
asking for information. Many times no one
was at home but some female member of
the family. who was unwilling to sign the
return the enumerators are required TO
take, for fear il had something to do with
taxes. or would compel the family to pay
something into the tax fund. I'm many
cases it was necessary for the enumerators
to go to the houses many times to get in
formation when IL might as well have been
given by the wife or mother at the outset.
For this reason ii is difficult to comply with
the law which requires the enumeration to
be made within twenty days.
Mr.. Blackledge says that. so far as he
knows. there has been but little discussion
of the subject of redistricting the city into
new school districts after the suburbs are
annexed. although the subject has been
given some thought since the Journal
pointed out that il would be necessary at
the time the ordinances were annexed. He
says that so far as he knows there is MOTH
ing in the statute, Of the State which de-
termine how the districts are TO be formed.
and what matters are to be taken into con-
sideration. The law under which the board
was created simply gives IL power TO
change boundaries. and provides that III ex-
ira districts are created there shall ne an
additional commissioner from each. There
is nothing in the law 10 prevent the School
Board from attaching the several suburbs
to the school districts to which they are
contiguous, regardless of school population.
When North indianapolis was annexed the
district next to IL was simply extended to
include the suburb. If this course is fol-
lowed the present commissioners Will con-
tinue in office until their terms expire, when
the new territory would take a hand in the
elections. If, however. the entire city is re-
districted and additional districts are ere
ated. it will be necessary to elect commits
sioners from the new districts at the COM
ing election in June. There is a feeling that
this question should he determined in time
for the coming election. Mr.. Blackledge is
one of several commissioners who do not
believe that any good Will come from IN
creasing the number of school districts. at
least not 10 any great extent. At one time
there was a sentiment in favor OF charging
the School Board. but it is said that expert
ence i'm other large cities has been that the
best and truest interests of the schools are
conserved by small rather than large
boards. The power of the board on this
score is unlimited. il is said. but there does
not seem TO be much danger OF any radical
changes i'm this respect There il a sugges-
ton that West indianapolis, Haughville
and Mount Jackson might be placed i'm "A
new school district I'm time to elect a COM
missioner at the June election. Then. by
| extending the eastern districts to include
| Brightwood and territory south of it, the
subject would be settled without redistrict-
ing the entire city.