Semi-weekly herald., 1914-08-17
SOME STARTLING
SCHOOL STATISTICS

G. G. Sargent, rural school visitor
for the state of Colorado, has just
completed his report for the eight
years covering 19O6-1913 inclusive. A
survey of the same will convince any
thoughtful person of the Importance
Of rural school Improvement in our
state.
The report follows:
The following statistics are COM
plete for all third class school dis
tricts in Colorado for the eight years
l906-1913 inclusive. They include all
town, village and country schools in
he state that have less than $50 chill
dren between the ages Of and 81
years.
$3.50 represents the average school
census for eight years.
62,972 represents the average en-
rollment, rs per cent of the census.
38,625 represents the average daily
attendance, 61 per cent of the en-
rollment.
l4,2S3 represents the total eighth
grade graduates. This was 20 per
.ent Of the enrolment, or 20 per cent
If those eligible.
Eighty per cent of all country chH-
lren fell by the wayside in the race
for an education. Eighty per cent
lid not reach the goal set for them by
,ur school system.
69,Oio country boys and girls rep
'esent Coiorado's educational Scrap
Heap" during one full eight year
yrind Of our school machinery. No
me can measure the loss to the state
md nation by this army of boys and
sirls failing to get even an elemen-
ary education in our rural schools.
This probably represents the great
st loss this state has sustained in the
asst eight years. Still our people,
either in the city or the country
,ave manifested any alarm about it,
or they are .just boys and girls"
II so per cent Of the farmers wa
ter right we're lost by seepage and
evaporation he could only raise gar
len with what remained. II 80 per
,ent Of the cream went through the
iepartor and 80 per cent of the grain
through the thresher, the pigs would
atten on SKINNED" milk and at
he straw pile. II 80 per cent of
,ur crops failed to mature, or 80
Der cent of the live stock were un-
1t for market, the farmer could bare
y live and cities could not exist.
During these eight years our cities
nave been engaged in their own prob
iems, the farmers have been busy
raising more and better crops, the
Ichools have been supposed to be
cunning" and no loud call for help
has come up from any county in
Colorado. Our state government has
been engaged in routine work, in re-
yising our taxing system and ap-
1ropriated $1,000, 900 for coal strike.
While in our national government con-
gress has been working on "The Big
Ditch constructing irrigation sys-
sems, making reciprocity treaties, re-
Using the tariff, building warships,
studying guerilla warfare in Mexico,
working for international peace, hag-
Cling over appointments and con-
serving our natural resources, and as
a,result, neither county, state or ma
tion has had time to study the rea-
sons why 69,010 Colorado country
school boys and girls failed to pass.
And it was largely because they were
boys and girls, for II 80 per cent Of
the pigs Of this state were affected
by disease that threatened financial
loss, the counties would call for help.
the state would appropriate money
and call for federal aid and the gov
ernment would send its most skillful
experts who would remain until
remedy could be found.
These figures are reliable and re-
veal a condition that calls loudly for
relief. Our school system must ~
revised before another 6o.01o of eur
boys and girls are added to our scrap
heap. The door Of opportunity ~
not open wids for man or woman M
less than an elementary sdveaAia
! Q. q. MN0x1exs (,