Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-28
BIRTHS AND DEATHS P|R}EE:SE:|lT \ PROBLEM Are Fewer Children Born or To Larger Number
 Die Per Million?
PERCENTAGE IS LESS
Statistical Report of The Bureau Of Education Suggests Interesting
 Questions.
dy Jonathan Winfield.)

! tndH t@GHty 3SdiS dSO ol 1S lAG average length of human life mater tally increasing?
 These questions suggested in the introduction of the statistical report Of tho United States Bureau of Edu- cation for 1911, following the state ment that the percentage of the to- tai population enrolled in the schools in 1910 was less than in 1890
 It is pointed out that important methods of gathering statistics ac- count for part of the loss, but on the other hand authorities note that compulsory education laws and like social agencies are bringing a greater and greater proportion of children to the schoolhouse door. The introduce tory statement to the education bu- reau's document says in part:
 There was an apparent decrease in the percentage of the total popu- lation enrolled in the schools as a whole from 2254 in 1890 to 21.34 in 1910. The loss may be given in numbers as 919,723. In other words, the grand total of school enrolment l in 1910 would have been 20,731643 if the percentage os 1890 had been maintained in place of the 19,S11,922 grand total.
 "All this loss and more is suffered by the elementary schools, for the higher institutions made substantial gains and the secondary schools show marked increase in enrolment as compared with the total popula- tion.
 '.There is no reason for the be- lief that the schools have lost ground in reality This comparison school population, and it is probable that there are relatively fewer child ren now than formerly.
 "If there are not so many children proportionately there will naturally be proportionately fewer pupils. Fur thermore, it is well known that the l constant Improvement in statistical methods has resulted in the ellmlna- ton to an increasing extent of dupll- eated enrollments. The decrease that results is apparent only and causes no concern
 In further support of this eonten- ton, figures are cited which show that had the apparent relative de- crease of 919,723 in enrolment been real, the loss would have been more than made up in the increased in- efficiency of the common schools, for the per cent of average daily at tendance increased from 6S.61 ill lS90 to 71.30 in 1910; the average length of school term increased from 134.l days to 1875 days between the same dates. At the same time the average number of days schooling received Inv each child of school age incf ed from 592 in 1890 to S6.5 in 1910, while the average number of days attended by each pupil enrolled in creased from S63 in 1890 to 113.o in 1910.
 Every child in the elementary city schools of the United States is to be card catalogued, and a running history of his entire school career in the grades kept permanently on file, according to plans just issued ey the bureau of education. Although this plan has just been inaugurated, it has the approval of the National Educational Association, while some keen the cards. Eventually, it is an ticipated, about 6,0o0,000 pupils Will be thus tabulated.
 With the new card-catalogue sys- tenn in full operation throughout the country, definite and scientific an- swer can be made to a large number of questions the solution to which must now be guessed in large measure How many times has child been detained in 2 grade? How ! many backward, average, CT retarded children are there in given city schools? How does this showing com pare with other cities? Does foreign l birth affect progress? If so, how? Does Kindergarten training help child through the grades? How does absence from school affect progress?
 These and other like questions can be answered readily and accurately when the new cumulative card ln- deX, in which every young American has his place can be drawn upon for information.
 The form of card contains the fol- lowing entries, among others: Age of child; date of admission to school; grade; days present; health; con duct: scholarship; place of birth; vaccinated; name and occupation or parent or guardian.
 As the child moves from grade to grade, or from building to building, the card containing his past record will follow him, as will aso be the case even if he shoud move from one city to another. In this way his entire past and present in school l vii be checked off against each other, point by point and year by year.
 In addition to introducing the cum ulative index card as means ol keeping the school history of every American child, the committee of in- vestigators has also drawn up uni form method of reporting fiscal sta tistics. so that costs may be com puted upon the same universal basis.
 The new scheme of school statis- tics was drawn up by committee appointed by the Department of Su- perintendenee of the National Educa- tional Association. working in coop eration with the United States Bu-