Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-11
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Sixteen Million Pupils En-
rolled in United States.
Valuable Report Issued By Commits
sioner Harris.
North Atlantic States Leading, but
South is Gaining.

sioner of education, Mr.. William II.
Harris, has submitted to the Secretary
of the Interior, the annual report of the
work of his bureau. The report, in
part, follows:
1.-The bureau of education was estab-
lished by Congress for the purpose of
collecting such statistics and facts as
shall show the condition and progress
of edcation in the several states and
territories, and of diffusing such infor-
nation respecting the organization and
management of schools and school sys-
TENS and methods of teaching as shall
aid the people of the United States in
the establishment and maintenance
of efficient school systems, and other
wise promote the cause of education
throughout the country
I'm accordance with the general gov
ornamental policy of the United States,
the purpose of the bureau is to aid
government in education And this
is done not by taking the control out of
the hands of the people, but by collect
ing such information as will enable the
local directors and teachers to manage
their schools in the light of the expert
ence of the whole country, and, as far
as possible of the whole world.
"But there are certain functions
which have been added from time to
time to the bureau by act of Congress
differing somewhat from those de-
scribed. The entire management of the
government schools in Alaska outside
of incorporated towns is lodged in the
bureau, and n special agent appointed
70 tolx tot nj, &c bo
under the general direction of the COM
missioner of education. The manage
ment of the annual distribution of en-
dowment by Congress of the agricul-
tural and mechanical colleges (under
act of August 30, 1890 is also placed in
charge of this bureau.
''To obtain the items of information
required to tabulate the statistics of
schools in the United States, twenty
five blank forms of inquiry are sent out
to as many public offices and kinds of
institutions The items of information
called for by these several forms of in
quiry number in all 10. and the differ
ent schedules sent in to be tabulated
amount to 1921, but in many cases
second and third schedule has to be
mailed to the institution or public officer
who makes the returns.
Il give the following general items
which condense into summaries the de-
tailed statistics which go to make the
bulk of my annual report for 1902:
Pupils enrolled in the common
schools during the year. 15,925,SS7. the
same being POPS per cent. of the entire
population, estimating the same at
7S,544,S16 In 1870 the number enrolled
was 6,S71, 522, the same being 1882 per
cent. of the population. In 1880 the per-
centage enrolled had increased some
what, being at that time 1857 per cent.
of the population. In 1890 the per
cent. of the total population had nearly
reached the present rate. The average
daily attendance for 1902 was 10,999.273.
the same being 69 per cent. of the total
number enrolled. This is the largest
average attendance on the number ell
rolled ever reported in the United
States. 1t was only 1913 per cent. in
1870. The actual average number of
days attended by each pupil enrolled
reached 100 days, which was y days in
excess of that of 1870. The school term
for the first time in the history of the
United States reached las days. These
items and some others may be shown
in comparative table.
THE school year includes 200 days in
nearly all of the large cities and $50 in
the ajority of the villages, but from
these days should be deducted nation
al and state holidays. With the growth
of cities the regular state tax for schools
grows less and the local taxation in
creases.
IAN interesting question arises as to
the amount of schooling that each in
dividual of he population is receiving
on an average. This can be calculated
from the actual number of days attend
ed by the pupils in the public schools,
and the attendance on the private
schools may be closely estimated. In
1876 the average schooling given to each
inhabitant was 672 days, counting in al!
Of the short period of schooling which
he may have had during the thirteen |
years of his school age. This average
increased to 1872 days in 1880, and to
S92 days in 1890, and to 1892 days in 1907
The states of the north Atlantic divis- !
ion have a longer period than this, 7,
amounting to 1854 days. The south
Atlantic and the South central
DIVISIONS 1all DelOW, Jul AS
rapidly increasing. The south CEN
trail division of states, for in
stance had only 224 days as the average
entire amount of schooling according to
the rate of the attendance of the year
1879, and it had increased to 622 days III |
1902 The south Atlantic average was
a little more. being 246 days at the time
of 1876 and 1O2 days in 1902.
1.-THE increase of the population
number and size of cities in the south,
owing to the influence of the railroad
and manufacturing towns, has been the
chief reason for this increase of the
amount of schooling given on an aver
age to each of the population, and re-
veals the earnestness of the south IN
the work of extending and perfecting
their educational systems. OF the 1882
days which are given to the average
citizen of the United States, if estimat-
e.: at the rate of attendance of last
year. $50 days of it are furnished by
the public school system, which is
larger proportion than that of 1870. in
which year, out of the total of 772 days
only $50 days were given in the public