The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-04-24
Taken from State Sup
erintendent GaSS'
Latest Report.
OUR SHOWING IS GOOD
Enumeration of Children In State Has
Steadily Decreased During the
Past -Four Years.

A tancier of statistics could spend +;
several days with pleasure in reading
the latest report of State Superin-
tendent of Schools Howard A. Gass.
Every page bristles with interesting
figures and statements. A few facts
of special interest to the people OF
Lexington and Lafayette county are
here presented.
The report deals with the school
year ending June 30, 1908.
For the past four years the enum-
Grafton of school children in the state
has shown a gradual decrease. The
largest enumeration was in 1894, the
grand total being 99S,727 children
The grand total in 1908, was 9Si659,
a decl ease in four years of 4,Oes
This shows an average annual de-
crease OF S5l7 pupils.
In regard to this Mr., Gass says;
''But two possible reasons can be Of
fered tor this marked falling of in
the numbers of children. 1t may
mean that the population of Missouri
is decreasing, or it may mean that
race suicide is an established fact In
Missouri. That Missouri's population
is really decreasing in the ratio of
the decrease in enumeration OF school
children is hardly probable. The Uni
ted States census of 1910 may tell. l
am inclined to think that the de-
crease is to be attributed to the de
liberate choice, by parents, OF small
families.
A few general facts noted are;
There are more children in town
schools than in rural schools.
In the town schools, the number OF
females exceeds the number of males,
while in the country the number of
males exceeds the number of females
The percentage of male teachers
in rural districts is nearly twice as
large as the percentage of male
teachers in the town districts.
The 1885 men teachers in towns re-
ceive tor salaries 81, ,2O6, ,959.9 .95, while
9,3lS men teachers in rural districts
receive but 1904, ,799.S2.
The 6,297 women teachers in towns
receive $3.50, 1867 while 9,73O
women teachers in rural districts re-
ceive but sl,6l6,6lS.l7
The town pupil is in school nearly
twice as many days per year as the
country pupil and the expenditure
per child attending in towns is nearly
twice as large as the expenditure per
child attending in the rural districts.
Lafayette county has enrolled 5,S06
children, compared with s, ,446 in Ray,
6,s96 in Saline, 6,597 in Johnson.
This county received for school pur-
poses during the year sllS576.3h
compared with s9O,lS2.59 in Ray,
s242, ,S2447 in Saline, $ll9,7OlSS in
Johnson.
Teachers salaries in this count y
amounted to $50, ,652 81, in Ray to s54,
1890, in Saline to sl2S,O4069, in
johnson to sSO,325.O7.
Eighty two districts of Lafayette
county have libraries containing H.
277 volumes. There are 1859 public
school teachers in the county. Their
average salary is s47.SS-male $8S.sO
female s42 81.
Lexington is stated TO pay its male
teachers an average of s2OS.S3 pei
month: but this is mistake. Il
should be slls5O. The average
salary for female teachers in Lexing
ton is stated as s4l.62.
Lexington's enrolment is l,2l2
enumeration 1876. The average
daily attendance is S44.
Higginsville has an enumeration o
s65, an enrolment of 633, an average
attendance of 5l3. Its average sal
ary of male teachers is $3.50, o
female teachers s41.l1.
Odessa has an average attendance
of 2Sl and employs teachers at al
average salary Of s55.
Corder has an average attendance
of 2OS and employs 5 teachers a
an average salary Of $3.50.
Waverly has an average attendanc
of o. and employs teachers at a
average salary Of s47.5O
wellington has an average attend
ance OF l39 and employs teachers a