The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1909-12-02
ARMY OF CHILDREN.
Seventeen Million of Them in the United
States.

Washington.-An enormous army
of children has begun the regular
winter campaign for education
This peaceful force numbers more
than 100000 persons. Those com
posing it will range in age from five
to eighteen years. 1t represents the
common school system of the various
states.
The bureau of education is d
branch of the general government
and collects statistics concerning the
schools of the various states. Com.
plete data for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1907, have been received
from every state except Delaware
and Montana. This made it possible
to compile the most complete and
valuable data heretofore available.
The figures obtained by the bureau
of education show that at the close
of the school year in June, 1907, there
was a total enrolment of I6,S90,8 le
children in the common schools OF
the various states. This included
1850, 296 in the public schools of the
66I cities having more than 5000
population and 716,154 in the 664
cities ranging in population from
1000 to 5000. 1t also included 751,-
OS1 students belonging to city and
rural high schools connected with
state systems.
The population of the United State:
has materially increased during the
past two years, so the total army OF
school children for the present cam.
paign will be largely in excess of
1900, 900.
Census officials estimated the total
population of the country in June
1907, to be $685. 61. On that basis
it was computed that the number Of
children ranging in age from five tc
eighteen years was 1862, 1886. The
difference in sex was not striking
the boys numbering 1925, 149 and the
girls II, O37,7S The estimated mum
Der of male persons more than TWEEN
ty-one years old was 23,S05,219
Taking the above figures as foun.
dation it was found an enrolment OF
16,S90,318 of all ages between five and
eighteen was equal to 69.61 per cent
Of the school population. The pei
cent. of enrolment showed a de
crease, as in 1909 it was 72.43 pei
cent. In 1890 it was 6S.6I per cent.
and in 1870 the percentage was 81. As
The sex difference in enrolment
was less than in the matter of school,
population. 1t is shown that 8,473,-
921 boys and S,416,S97 girls were en-.
rolled. This represented 1875 pei
cent. of the total population.
That abundance of work was found
for truant officers and persistent par.
ents is found in the fact that the
average daily attendance at school
was IL $685. 72, or 7O.6O per cent. of
the entire enrolment.
The average length of the annual
school term was a fraction more than
Isl days. In 1871 it was 132 days, in
1880 but 40 days, in 1890 only 134
days, and in 1900 it had increased to
AL days. The average number of
days schooling given every child be-
tween five and eighteen was TAG.
The average number of days attend
ed by each pupil actually enrolled
was 1913.
To officer and drill this great army
of the children 491, 3l6 teachers were
employed. The weaker sex came to
the fore in this regard, and outnum-
bered the men by more than to 1.
There were but 1O4, Ala male teachers
in the aggregate number, or but 2l.7
per cent. of the total. The proper
ton of male teachers has steadily
declined since 1880, when they repre-
sented 1913 per cent. of the number
employed. While the great bulk of
the teachers were women, the men
we're better paid. The average price
given was 5000 per month. The
average allowed men was S58.O6 and
women but S440S.
To provide quarters for the vast
army of children 259.355 buildings
we're occupied, representing an esti-
mated value of 1858, 655, 2O9. The
total revenue available for maintain
ing the common schools was $780,
016,173 This was equivalent to So 80
per capita of population, as COM
pared with 1884 in 1900, with 50. "a in
1890, and S1.56 in 1880. The money
disbursed in giving the children an
education was thus divided: Build
ings, sites, furniture, libraries and
apparatus, s65, 333, $40; for teachers
and superintendents' salaries, $780,
047, 1914: for all other purposes, chief
ly maintenance, S69, 517, 179.