Bisbee daily review., 1909-11-25
ARMY OF CHILDREN
Seventeen Million of Them in the
 United States.
They Number About one-Fifth of the country's Entire Population - Range In Age from Five to
 Eighteen.

children has begun the regular win ter campaign for education. This peaceful force numbers more than 100000 persons. Those composing it will range in age from to IS years. It represents the common school sys- tenn of the various states.
 The bureau of education is a branch of the general government and col leets statistics concerning the schools of the various states. Complete data for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, have been received from every state except Delaware and Montana. This made 1t possible to compile the most complete and valuable data here tofore 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 16,S90,s1S children in the common schools of the various states. This included 4,7S0,. 296 fin the public schools of the 66l cities having more than 5000 popula- ton and 716,154 in the 664 cities rang ing in population from 4,000 to 5000. It also included 751.0s1 students be- longing to city and rural high schools connected with state systems.
 The population of the United States has materially increased during the | past two years, so the total army of school children for the present cam 2aign will be largely in excess of IT, O00.00O.
 Census officials estimated the total | population of the country in June, 1907, to be S5,526,761. On that basis 1t was computed that the number of children ranging in age from to IS years was 24,262,93 The difference in sex was not striking the boys num- bering 12.225,149 and the girls 12.037,- 7S7. The estimated number of male persons more than 21 years old was 23,S05,219
 | Taking the above figures as foun- 1, dation, it was found an enrolment of | 16,S90,31S of all ages between five and eighteen was equal to 6s.61 per cent of the school population. The per cent. of enrollment showed a decrease, as in 1900 it was 72.43 per cent. In 1890 | II 65.50 per cent, and in 1870 the per centage was 61.45.
 The sex difference in enrolment 1 was less than In the matter of school population. It is shown that SAYS, ,921 boys and SAG. .S97 girls were enrolled. This represented 1875 per 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 aver. age daily attendance at school was 11,925, ,672, or TOGO per cent. of the i entire enrolment
 The average length of the annual school term was fraction more than 151 days. In 1871 it was 132 days, in 1880 but 130 days, in 1890 only 134 days, and in 1900 it had increased to IA days. The average number of days schooling given every child be- tween five and eighteen was 74.6. The average number of days attended by each pupil actually enrolled was 1073.
 To officer and drill this great army O1 tue CAttul tN tOl5olO lGdCnSIs were employed. The weaker sex came to the fore in Chis regard, and outnum- bered the Len by more than to l. There were put 104,41 male teachers In the agg regate number, or but 21 ' per cent. O. the total. The proportion Of male teachers has steadily declined since 1880, when they represented 42 8
 per cent. of the number employed. While the great bulk of the teachers was women, the men were better paid. The average price given was s50.30
 per month. The average allowed men l; was S5S.06 and women but s44.08. To provide quarters for the vast
 army of children 259,355 buildings
 were occupied, representing an esti.
 mated value of sS5S,G55,209. The total revenue available for maintaining the
 common schools was S355, 5,016, ,173.
 This was equivalent S3.9O per capita
 of population, as compared with $2.S4
 in 1900, with s2.34 in 1890 and S156 in
 1880. The money disbursed in giv.
 ing the children an education was thus divided: Buildings. sites, furni.
 ture, libraries and apparatus, $65, ,333,,
 $40; for teachers and superintendents'
 salaries, $2O2, 2,047,S14; for all other
 purposes, chiefly maintenance, $69..
 517,179. c