Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-05
SIXTEEN MILLIONS
Pupils Enrolled in the Schools
of the Country.
FIFTH OF POPULATION
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION HARRIS.
States Of North Atlantic Division in
the Lead-Southern States
Steadily Increasing.
FIFTH OF POPULATION

the work of his bureau The report, in
part, follows:
THE bureau of education was established
by Congress for the purpose of collecting
such statistics and facts as shall show the
condition and progress of education in the
several states and territories, and of diffus-
ing such information respecting the organi-
cation and management Of schools and
school systems and methods of teaching as
shall aid the people of the United States
in the establishment and maintenance OF
efficient school systems, and otherwise pro-
mote the cause of education throughout
the country
Policy of the Government.
I'm accordance with the general govern
mental policy Of the United States the pur-
pose Of the bureau is to aid local self-gov-
eminent in education And this is done not
by taking the control out of the hands of
the people, but by collecting such infor-
nation as will enable the local directors
and teachers to manage their schools In
the light of the experience 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 some
what from those described. The entire
management of the government schools IN
Alaska outside of incorporated towns is
lodged in the bureau, and special agent
appointed to take immediate charge of the
schools under the general direction OF the
commissioner Of education. The manage
ment of the annual distribution of endow-
ment by Congress of the agricultural ana
mechanical colleges (under act of August
80, 1890 is also placed in charge of this
bureau.
ITO obtain the Items of information re-
quired 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 inquiry number in all 10
and the different schedules sent In 10 De
tabulated amount to 15.I21, put IN many
cases a second and a third schedule has to
be mailed to the institution or public Of
ficer who makes the returns.
Il give the following general items which
condense into summaries the detailed sta
tistfcs which go to make the bulk OF my
annual report for 1902:
Nearly Sixteen Million Pupils.
pupils enrolled in the common schools
during the year, 1926, sS7, the same being
20 % per cent of the entire population, estl-
mating the same at IS, 544, SIG In 1870 the
number enrolled was 6,S71,522, the same
being 17S2 per cent of the population. In
1880 the percentage enrolled had increased
somewhat, being at that time 1857 per cent
Of the population. In 1880 the per cent or
the total popula ton had nearly reached the
present rate. The average daily attend
ance for 1902 was 10,g99, 213, the same being
50 per cent Of the total number enrolled.
This is the largest average attendance on
the number enrolled ever reported In the
United States. 1t was only 59.3 per cent in
1870 The actual average number of days
attended by each pupil enrolled reached 100
days, which was % days in excess of that
of 1870. The school term for the first time
in the history of the United States reached
145 days These items and some others
may be shown in comparative table.
1.-The school year includes 200 days in
nearly all of the large cities and $50 in the
ma ority of the villages but from these
days should be deducted national and state
regular state tax for schools grows less
and the local taxation increases.
Average Amount of Schooling.
IAN interesting question arises as to the
amount of schooling that each individual
of the population is receiving on an aver
age. This can be calculated from the actual
number of days attended by the pupils in
the public schools, and the attendance on
the private schools may be closely esti-
mated. In 1870 the average schooling given
to each inhabitant was 672 days, counting
in all of the short periods of schooling
which he may have had during the thirteen
years of his school age. This average in
creased to 1872 days in 1880, and to 500 days
in 1890, and to 1,O32 days in 1902. The
states of the north Atlantic division have
longer period than this, amounting to 1854
days. The south Atlantic and the south
central divisions fall below but are rapidly
increasing. The south central division of
states for instance, had only 22i days as
the average entire amount of schooling ac-
cording to the rate of attendance of the
year 1870 and 1t had increased to GU DAYS
in 1902. The south Atlantic average was
little more, being 246 days at the time of
1870 and 702 days in 1902
Increased Schooling in the South.
''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 in
crease of the amount of schooling given on
an average to each of the population and
reveals the earnestneSs of the south in the
work of extending and perfecting their edu-
catfonal systems. OF the 1,032 days which
are given to the average citizen of the
United States, if estimated at the rate of
attendance of last year. $50 days of 1T are
by the public school system
which is a larger proportion than that of
1870 in which year, out of the total of
~ days. only $50 days were given in the
public school.
According to a somewhat careful esti-
mate the total amount of schooling given
10 the average Of the population in 1900 did
not exceed elSnty-tWO Gays out by 1910 this
had risen to 208 days. The decade ending
IN 1850 showed great increase of interest
IN schools, owing to the labors of Horace
Mann and his disciples in New England and
elsewhere, and at the rate Of attendance on
schools in 1850 the entire population could
count on 400 days each; at the rate OF 1860
1874 days; in 1870. 672 days; 1850, 1872 DAYS:
Ls9O. 500 days; 1902. 1O32 days.
City and Village School Systems.
"In 1902 $50 cities. containing 5000 inhab-
tants and upward, and 459 villages. con-
tanning 1900 to 5000 inhabitants, reported
The aggregate number of public school chill
lren enrolled in these $50 cities was Alta
s12 pupils Besides these there was an en-
-ollment of s77,210 pupils in private and
oarochial schools; male teachers, $3.50;
female teachers. SO, 775. These cities alone
expended Sill, 159. 665. The entire population
aggregated % 293. lab people. In 1890 442
cities, of 5000 inhabitants and upward, re-
ported an aggregate enrolment in the pub
10 schools of 2627,275. 1t is interesting to
aote that the supervising officers in city
schools number 5O25."