The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-28
WHY ARE SCHOOL
CHILDREN FEWER?
Statistics Causing Some I'm
pOrtant Questions
TO TABULATE PUPILS
Percentage of Population Attending
Schools Now Less Than in 1890.
Tabulation Scheme Will AM
swer Many Questions
TO TABULATE PUPILS
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD

Washington, July 27.-(special)-A
fewer children born? Do larger numbers
die per million of population now than
20 years ago? Or is the average length
of human life materially increasing?
These are questions suggested in the
introduction of the statistical report Of the
United States Bureau of Education for
1911, following the statement that the per-
centage of the total population enrolled
in the schools In 1910 was less than in
1890.
It is pointed out that important methods
of gathering statistics account for part
of the loss, but on the other hand other
authorities note that compulsory educa-
bringing greater and greater proportion
of children to the school house door. The
Introductory statement to the education
bureaus document says In part:
There was an apparent decrease in the
percentage of the total population en-
rolled In the schools as a whole from
2254 in 1890 to 21.54 In 1910. The loss may
be given in numbers as 919, 1913. In other
words, the grand total of school enroll
ineHl III JJlO Wouid nave pcCii ~ 'oAiVtv ~
the percentage of 1890 had been main
tanned in place of the 19,S11,92 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 in
crease in enrolment as compared with
the total population.
i'There is no reason for the belief that
the schools have lost ground in reality.
This comparison is with total population.
not school population, and 1t is probable
now than formerly
'If there are not SO many children pro-
portionally, there will naturally be pro
portionally fewer pupils. Furthermore, It
is we'll known that the constant improve
ment in statistical methods has resulted
in the elimination to- an increasing extent
of duplicate enrolfments. The decrease
that resultsr4s apparent only and causes
no concern"
In further support of this contention,
figures are cited which show that had
the apparent relative decrease of 919723
IN enrolment been real. the loss would
have been more than made up in the in
creased efficiency of the common schools,
for the percent of average daily attend
ance increased from 6S.61 in 1880 to Il.3O
in $780, the average length of school term
increased from 134.7 days to 1915 days be-
tween the same dates. AT the same time
the average number of days schooling
received by each child of school age in
creased from 59.2 In 1890 to sos in 1910,
while the average number of days attend
ed by each pupil enrolled increased from
1858 in 1890 to 1870 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 by the bureau of education.
Although this plan has just been inaugu-
rated, it has the approval of the Nation
al Education association, while some 800
cities have already began to keep the
cards Eventually, it is anticipated,
about 100000 pupils will be thus tab
ulated.
With the new card catalogue system In
full operation throughout the country,
definite and scientific answer can be made
to q large number of questions, the solu-
ton to which must now be guessed in
large measure. How many times has
given child been detained In grade?
How many backward, oVerage or re-
tarded children are there in given city's
schools? How does this showing COM
pare with other cities? Does foreign birth
affect progress If so, how? Does kinder
garten training help child through tbs
grades? How does absence from school
affect progress?
These and other like questions can be
answered readily and accurately when
the new cumulative card index, In which
every young American has his place, can
be drawn upon for the information.
The form of card contains the following
entrees among others: Age of child, date
of admission to school, grade, days pres
emit, health, conduct. scholarship. place
of birth, vaccinated, name ana occupation
of parent or guardian.
AS the child moves from grade to grade.
or from building to building, the card con-
tanning his past record will follow him, as
will also be the case even II ne snouiu
move from one city to another In TINS
way his entire past and present In school
will be checked off against each other,
point by point and year by year.
In addition to introducing the cumula-
tive index card as means of keeping the
school history of every American child,
the committee of investigators has also
drawn up a uniform method of reporting
fiscal statistics. so that costs may be
computed upon the same universal basis.
The new scheme or scnooi STATISTICS was
drawn UP by committee appointed by
the department Of superintendent of the
National Educational association, working
in cooperation with the United States
Bureau of Education. The result OF their
labors Is issued al government docu-
ment under the title, Reports OF the
Committee on inform Records and Re-
ports" and will be sent free upon re-
d,lest to the United States Commissioner
of Education, Department of the Interior.
Washington, ID. G.