Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-05
EDUCATION IN |ONA
Statistics Show Actual Decrease
In School Population and
School Attendance
ONLY PARTIALLY EXPLAINED
The High Tide of School Enrolment
Was Reached in 1900 and State SUI
perintendent Barrett Says He Can
not Fully Account for This Falling
off-SaIary Recommendations.
to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines. Dec. 3. = President
Roosevelt made two trips across Iowa
this year and turned aside on more
than one occasion to say words of en-
eouragement for the people of Iowa
who are engaged in rearing families:
and indications are, as judged by the
official records of the Iowa schools,
that this campaign in behalf of future
generation did not como any too soon.
The report of the state department o.
public instruction, just completed by
State Superinten Barrett, shows
that while the population of Iowa is
steadily increasing the school popula-
ton is surely decreasing. The high
tide of school enrolment was reached
in 1900. when the school teachers re-
ported total of 566.22s pupils IN the
schools. Then In the next year Il
dropped to 562,662; and again in 1902
to 56o,173. Last year the deficiency
was explained on the ground of errors
This year the school enrolment drops
to 550,202, a loss of 10000 In one year.
superintendent Barrett makes only a
partial explanation OF IL In his report.
II can not fully account for this fall
Ing or" he said. In my report refer
y. .s<yt, r oS ,.ao
sons for some of the loss. 1t is ia
yor!te theory of some persons that as
literacy and learning increase the sizs
of the families decrease. 1t may be
that we In Iowa have reached the stage
where this phase of life Is making 1T
self felt and that the tendency now rs
actualiy toward smaller families among
me people OF the state. Another fac.
tor. aud this feel sure has had some :
thing to do with the case, is that in the
past few years large numbers OF fami-
lies have removed from Iowa to Cam
ada and the states north and west of
US. The tendency Is for persons who
have large families to begin to look
about for more land to divide up
among the children. Iowa land has In
creased enormously in value. until 1t Is
more difficult for the head of n family
to acquire a large farm to leave to his
children. He looks to the cheaper land
of the frontier and selling his Iowa
farm moves TO places where he can get
larger tracts of land. This has GER
.ainly had something TO do with re-
ducing the school attendance in Iowa.
AT any rate the statistics show that
Iowa is actually decreasing in school
population and school attendance
The number and value of school,
houses has increased and also the
amount paid teachers In salaries ana
all other expenses. According to the
report the public schools cost the citi-
zens of the state over s10.000,000 annu-
ally, while the estimate of funds for ali
state purposes next year Is only $2,-
100000. Thus the schools are the most
expensive things in the state.
superintendent Barrett. in going out
Of office, makes the recommendation
that the salary OF the superintendent
of public instruction be fixed so that he
shall receive not less than $4,000 a
year. The fact that many city super
intendents received $4,000 to $4,000 for
nine or ten months work, and many
colleges and university professors an
annual salary equally as large for the
same time, is often the very best
reason for their not permitting the use
of their names for the office of super
intendent of public instruction. A
salary should be paid sufficiently large
to induce the very best salaried or
college official to aspire to the position
The term. he declares, should be at
least four years.
The state allowance for county nor
NAL institutions should be increased
from $50 to 5000. 1t may have appear
ed necessary in the early history of the
state to require teachers to pay for
their own instruction in normal insti-
tutes, but the unprecedented prosper
ity of the state at the present time no
longer requires that Institutes should
be supported in the present manner.
The annual appropriation of $4,000 for
the agricultural societies and $57.350
for the militia indicates a willingness
to aid In building up state interests.
The teachers. Superintendent Barrett
asserts, acknowledged to be among the
most poorly paid of ALL should be re-
lieved of the tax which now amounts
annually to over $4,000
The present law requiring the exam
ination and certificatinn of teachers by
county superintendents and the state
board of educational examiners needs