Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-19
TIE SCHOOL CENSUS
State Supt. Barrett Issues In
structions for Count Of School
Population.
Federal Census Indicates That
School Officers Have Been
Careless.
The Figures Show Over 5000
Children We're Missed in
Last Count.
Special to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Aug. 19.-State Superin-
stendent Barrett has issued circular to
county superintendent in regard to the
enumeration of school children. In 1t he
states that the difference between the
figures of the federal census and those
returned by the school officers is over
$4,000, indicating gross carelessness on
the part of some of those having the
school enumeration in charge. He sug-
gests that more care be taken to get a
correct count this year. The circular is
as appended:
ITO County superintendent: The
work of taking the annual enumeration:
of school children is one of so much inn
Lortance that we urge you to leave
nothing undone to secure prompt and
accurate returns from every district in
your county. And we suggest that you
send blanks containing form No. "a to
the secretaries and to the directors in.
sub-districts for their help and guidance
IN performing their duty in this matter.
1.-THE time for taking the enumeration
is fixed by the statute, which should be
strictly followed Section 2,7S5 says that
each director shall, between the first
and tenth days of September in each
year prepare list of the heads of fami-
lies in his SUBJ district, the number and
sex of all children of school age, and by
the fifteenth day of said month report
this list to the secretary of the school
ltcwnship, who shall make full record
thereof Section 1854, referring to the
duties of the secretary, says: He shall
| between the first day of September and
i the third Monday in September of each
year enter in book made for that pur-
4 pose the name, sex and age of every
/ person between five and twenty-one re-
siding in the corporation, together with
the name of the parent or guardian
Notwithstanding the necessity fol
an accurate enumeration has been urged
from year to year by this department
we have reason to believe that the mum.
her reported from many districts anc
counties has not been correct. The fed
eral census of Iowa for 1900 gives 767,STt
children of school age. while the schoo
j census for the same year reports 731, 1874
i IulllSISIlCe OI 10 III #lIlc 1lWO IepOIt!
is good evidence that some parties have
done careless work, and a sufficient ar
gument that more accurate coun
should be made in September Of thi
year.
$, All persons between the ages of 5 an
! q years who are residents of distric
should be included in the school censu
for that district. No exception whateve
is made to. the above rule, and to b.
complete the list must include the name
4 OF all persons of school age, even if mar
RED or temporarily absent to atten,
school or engage in other work. To Sc
cure correct list the most careful in
quiry must be made by the party talk
ing the census, and most thorough ex
animation of the list must be made b,
the board before accepting the report.
"a child in one of the charitable o
reformatory institutions must be emu
merated in the district in which his par
ents reside. But if in the institution t
remain permanently. having no paren
or guardian, his residence is in the dis
trict,in which the institution is located
ard he should be enumerated therein
AS long ago as 1867 it was held. in al
opinion given by the attorney genera
that children at state institution
!, should not be enumerated in that dis
tr;ct for the purpose of drawing publ
money unless the parents reside in tn
district in which the institution is stu
ated"