The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-29
NE CAUTIONS The DIRECTORS.
More Care in the School
Enumeration.
There's a Difference of over IS. 900
in the Iowa and the Federal
Census.


ceived from State Superintendent Bar.
rett circular letter in regard to the
enumeration of school children. In it
the state superintendent states that the
difference between the figures of the fec
eral census and those returned by the
school officers is 35, 900, indicating gross
carelessness on the part of some of those
having the school enumeration in
charge. He suggests that more care be
taken to get correct count this year,
The circular follows:
"To County Superintendent; The
work of taking the annual enumeration
of school children is one of so much
importance 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. 34l to
the secretaries and to the directors in
sub-districts for their help and guidance
in performing their duty in that matter.
1.-THE time for taking the enumeration
is fixed by the statute which should be
strictly followed. Section 27s5 says
that each director shall, between the
first and tenth days of September, in
each year, prepare list of the heads of
families in his sub.district, the number
and sex of all children of school age,
and by the fifteenth day of said month
reports this list to the secretary Of the
school township, who shall make full
record thereof Section 2764, referring
to the duties of the secretary, says:
HE shall, between the first day of Sep
TENDER of each year enter in a book
made for that purpose the name, sex
and age of every person between 8 and
81 residing in the corporation, together
with the names Of the parent or guar
dian.'
Notwithstanding the necessity for an
accurate enumeration has been urged
from year to year by this department,
we have reason to believe that the
number reported from many districts
and counties has not been correct. The
ederal census of Iowa for 1900 gives
767, $40 children of school age while the
census of Iowa for the same year reports
73l, l54. difference of 81. ZIG in the two
reports is good evidence that some
parties have done careless work, and
sufficient argument that more accurate
count should be made in September Of
this year.
"All persons between the ages of and
2l years who are residents Of district
should be included in the school census
for that district. No exception what
ever is made to the above rule, and 10
be complete the list must include the
names of all persons of school age, even
if married or temporarily absent to at
tend school or engaged in other work.
To secure correct list the most careful
inquiry must be made by the party
taking the census, and most thorough
examination of the list must be made
by the board before accepting the re-
port.
ga child in one Of the charitable or
reformatory Institutions must be enum-
Grated in the district in which his pa.
rents resides. But if in the institution
to remain permanently, having NO pa
rent or guardian, his residence is IN the
district in which the institution is 10.
Gated, and he should be enumerated
therein. AS long ago as 1867 it was
held, in an opinion given by the at.
to,nsy general. that children at "a state
institution should not be enumerated in
that district for the purpose of drawing
public money unless the parents reside
in the district in which the institution
is situated"
Weather Crop Bulletin.