Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1900-02-15
EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO.
niitersey Has Rapidly Decreased and
More People Are Speaking Bugiish.

niiterscy mas Napioly Deereased ana
More People Are Speaking Bogiish.
The annual report OF N. G. de Bacs,
superintendent Of public instruction, JUS,
issued. gives many interesting facts
showing the progress OF education and
the decrease OF illiterscy within the ter.
ritory, says the New Mexican. In con.
GLIDING the general statement on this
subject, the superintendent says:
The large percentage, A49. lie given
BY the census report Of 1890. is to q large
extent due TO the fact that In 1890 there
were still living many Of the original
inhabitants, who were living In the ter.
ritory before II became a part OF the
United States. IL csn be safely estimated
thst at lsas. 20 per cent OF the ~ ptr
cent can be ssc. ibed TO them. This class
Of pioneers is fast disappearing. and the
new generation. without exception, ow.
ing TO our excellent school system, is en-
Toying all the benefits OF modern educs.
ton, and this element has made
excellent use OF the facilities AZ.
forded during the last seven years, O. q
total enrolment Of 15i 900 In the district
schools alone proves. This enrolment
gives an average Of 30 per cent. OF the
total school census OF $40. 200. and CON
sidering that BY the laws Of the territory
this census embraces all persons OF the
ages OF between 8 and 81 years, while
the majority attending school is OF 8 Il
10 years; and further considering the
fact that at least 10 per cent OF the TO-,
600 new arrivals are above 20 years, Il
may be safely asserted that there Is not
child In the territory between the aget
Of s aud 16 who fails 10 attend school
Taking $1,000 rs the number OF persons
OF school age, % per cent Is o conservs.
tive estimate of those able TO read and
write. Taking a. q basis the census Of
1890, with 1853 900 inhabitants, the terri
tory has had, during the last seven years,
an increase Of 10000, for the actual
number OF its Inhabitants Is to day 2i3..
900.
OF this increase Of $1,000, 10000 may b,
assigned To births and 10000 70 immi
grants from other states Of tee Union
OF these last 10000, at least 10000 or,
able to read and write, which leaves onll
IA per cent OF illiterscy among the new
arrivals.
Deducting the increase OF 10000 from
the total population OF $4,000 leave
$4,000, OF which $4,000 are Of school az,
and l03, 1000 above q years Of age.
OF the older inhabitants there were
according 10 the last census. 10 roun,
numbers, So per cent able to read an,
write, but, taking into consideration tn
deaths OF persons above school age occur
ring during the period OF seven years
and the increase OF this class by thosr
who, during their minority. attend school
this percentage can now be conservative.
ly estimated at 80 per cent.
Consequently, the matter Of person
able to read and write In New Mexicr
can be represented by the following ag
ures:
New arrivals. lse0-97.. 10000 SO per cen
Persons school age, 0 to
2i,....".,""""..,..., 10000 90 per cen
Persons above school
l03, 900 80 per cen
Totals ......... ......., aas. ooo 2so per cen
o 1000
-
$4,000
Or IN average, In round numbers, o
10 per cent abba 10 resdsand write, leav
ing only 81 per cent OF i~lliteracy.
In reference TO the knowledge Of th
English language. the following fact
will explain themselves and dispel tn
idea that English only 10 a slight extern
Is spoken In the territory.
The census Of 1890 gives I'LL a. tn
percentage OF those unable TO speal
English; the same factors proving th
decrease OF illiteracy also prove the In
crease Of the English language.
First, there H. the death rate OF tn
original settlers; second, an immigra
ton Of 10000. all Of which, with hardl
an exception, speak English and are O
Anglo-Saxon descent; third. a total on
rollment embracing seven years Of l5l,
900 In $50 schools; taught by 745 teach
ers. each and every n speaking an
teaching English.
From the above fscts a conservstiv
estimate can be made, proving that Ia
day the percentage OF the Inhabitants o
the territory unAble to speak EnglisI
, will not at ths utmost exceed 10 pc
cent.
, He Fooled the Surgeons.