River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-12-19
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

1t will be noticed from the above that
out of S,499 persons of school age in the
county, 600i. or about Il per cent at
tended school There were 4, 1865 persons
between the ages of and IA years only
3G9i, or about 50 per cent, of which at
tended public school Y weeks or more,
and so, or about per cent. attended
private schools the required time. 1T Is
evident from this that little or no at
teutlon Is paid to the enforcement of
the compulsory education law, about
10 per cent Of those between the specified
ages have not complied with its pro-
visions. 1t Is a matter of keen regret TO
me that SO large a percentage Of our
children should be allowed to grow up
without even the rudiments Of an educa-
ton, when our state makes such liberal
provision for the organization and main
tenance Of our public schools. Teachers,
school officers and all interested in the
educational progress Of our state, should
cooperate to secure full attendance in
our schools, for In the general intellig-
ence of its citizens lie the strength OF our
nation and the prosperity and perpetuity
Of our free institutions.
Reports from town clerks show the fol-
loving enrollments for l900-1901;
Number of schools in county enrolling
more than and less than II pupls....
Number Of schools in county enrolling
more than 10 and less than lb pupils.
Number of schools In county enrolling
more than IS and less than q pupils.
Number Of schools In county enrolling
more IMAM ~ ana less imam 70 pupllSs.lU
Number Of schools In county enrolling
more than q and less than 81 pupils.
Number of schools IN county enrolling
more than 30 and less than 36 pupils. IL
Number Of schools In county enrolling
more than 81 and less than II pupils, ID
Number Of schools IN county enrolling
more than 10 and less than 46 pupils. JIG
Number Of schools ia county enrolling
more than As and less than 81 pupils.
Number of schools in county enrolling
more than 50 and less than Sc pupils. 40
Number of schools IN county enrolling
more than s. and less than 81 pupils. 10
Number Of schools In county enrolling
more than Cd pupils ......-............ 500. 20
Number Of schools in county enrolling
less than . ........,......s...4.4..,.
An examination Of the annual reports
shows a surprising inequality In the
| school population, school attendance, ter
| ritory, valuation Of property and per
| capita, expense Of maintaining schools In
| different districts To illustrate this in
| equality allow me TO compare District
| No. 10, Town Of River Falls, with IT.
| District No /, Town of III Paso.
No. 10 IT No !, FL =.
X. r.
No Of persons Of school
| age In district. II l28
! Enrolment during past
| Amount of territory In
district. ..... ....4 3-16 sd. mi. is So mi.
] Per capita per month on basis Of
/ Census ..t........ ......t...,.... vt ~
/ Enrolment Observation-Disclosures. 2.99 "
/ Average attendance .........7.ds 1.40
/ mos. mos
4 Expense Of maintaining school
/ O900-l90D ....., ............ &09.4 $4Il 81
month ~. .a..-.~....... 814 1855
/ Taxes levied at annual
school meeting 0s94 ..... 1000 1895
4 Amount received from coun-
] ly school fund .......+..... 1879 14S 28
4 Amount received from state
/ school fund ...-.............. 14.25 1905
In each Of the above districts but one
! teacher Is employed ana it Is needless
70 state that IN each case the work must
| necessarily be uHaatis factory In the first
! case there can be- little or no class en-
| thusiasm as the attendance IS too small.
| while IN the other case The teacher can
give little or no individual attention to
/ pupils as the attendance Is too large. Ii
| viii also be rotlced that the small dis
! trict had TO raise 500 by district tax TO
pay teacher about $26 for seven months,
while the large district had 70 -aise bur