The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-12-23
MO- SCHOOL CHILDREN
State superintendent Barrett
Says There Is
DECREASE OF 1884 SINCE 1900
While There is no Loss OF Population,
Yet The Children Of School Age are
on the Decrease.

superintendent of Public Instruction,
r. G. Barrett, has issued his report,
and in an interview with writer for
the Chicago Record says:
"Ibelieve that the population of To-
wa has not decreased, but the theory
is often advanced that the higher the
degree of intelligence of any people the
smaller the families. The high per-
centage of literary in Iowa is we'll
known and commented On favorably by
educators and people everywhere l. is
possible that Iowa may be a clear IL
lustration of the theory refer to. But
arn not convinced that more pains
taking work by the federal or school
census enumerators will not completely
disprove the theory, at least SO far as
this state is concerned !"
The census figures on Iowa school
! population sine 1900 follow:
l900-Federal (June)...... ........ 161.s7O
190O-School tSeptember) ....r....... .731 ,154
laUl-Schooi ........... 30, loo
1902-SchoOl. ....a............... .12S $40
l903-School. .4S6
The falling off in the number of chill
dren between June and September,
1900, does not worry the state superin-
tendent or the people; it is the de-
crease since 1901. The difference be-
i tween the federal and state census fig
ures may be due to the inefficiency Of
the school census enumerations But
the same rule would net explain the
4 falling off of 6,34S in 1902 as compared
with 1901, aud the decrease of I .3a4 in
1908 as compared with 1902. As com
1 pared with the school census OF 1900
there is a falling off this year Of 9,66s.
If the decrease were at one point
where an error might be reasonably
alleged the people OF Iowa would be
content, but the figures show that in
eighty-five counties here was a de-
crease in the school population. while
in not to exceed dozen were there in
creases. 1t would be marvellous if
eighty-Gve counties should manage to
secure equally inefficient school enum-
orators in the same year, in the opin-
ion of the state superintendent.
| Mr.. Barrett saws: II do not believe
that the population of Iowa has de-
creased. 1t is not difficult to see in
| what way the school population has
I grown less while the general popula.
| ton has increased. Iowa land has ad.
j yanced tremendously during the last
four or five years. The Iowa farmer
+ with four or five boys has said to him
self that with $50 and S100land in lowe
D he could not do as we'll for his family
/ as he could with cheaper lana. The
I result is that he has sold his $50 acres
of high priced land and has gone into
q the Dakotas, or INTO Canada, or else
I where. for the cheaper land. through
whose purchase he could give his SON
u q fine start in life.
Il "There has come in to take his place
Il the Illinois or the Indiana or the Obi,
Il farmer, This man has grown to con
Il siderable age,on his farm in the easter
81 state and has sold his land for 800 ant
Il Sl50 an acre and has come 10 Iowa t
h settle, he and his wife, while their son
Y and daughters have gone to the city 0
j have married and settled on farms i
NJ the vicinity Of the one they have left
8 THAT is the story-the Iowa farme,
Il with his large family, going West t
n get cheaper land: his place filled by
y couple from the East, who bring n
II children into the state.
Y CAN Won WHIST