Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-09-11
RURAL SCHOOL NOTES.
BY zina Fessenden, co. supt.

Following are a few statistics
which should be of interest to par
ents and school patrons. These sta
tistics have been taken from our an
nual summer report to the state SUI
perintendent, and based on the Sec
retaries' reports from the different
school corporations.
Total population between ages Of
5-21 (school age). town 1908, rural
|2s11.
Total population between ages OF
7-16 Compulsory school age), town
753, rural 1905.
Total enrolment in public schools,
town 900, rural 1872.
Per cent of school age, enrolled,
town Sc, rural 81.
Per cent of compulsory school age
Of entire enrolment, town 1872. rural
90.
Average enrolment 'absent each
day, town lat, rural 522.
Per cent of enrolment in attena-
ance, each day, town IS, rural 70.
Estimating the population Of
those between 81 years at aout
200 in rural districts, which is a
very low estimate, we have a tai
Of between SIG Cages usually in at
tendance in rural schools) of a3oat
21O0
Per cent of daily attendance Of
this 210O, rural 81.
Total amount expended from
July 1, 1913-June 80, 1914, town
46,697.94, rural $4S,485.s4.
Cost per year per pupil Of sc,,ool
age (5-21) town s3o.s6, rural SLIPS.
Cost per month per pupil Of
school age average Of 9 months in
town schools, SO in rural SCHOOL,,
town 1914, rural $40.
Cost per pupil considering those
from $40 only in rural schools.
town, $2s.26 per year, rural $2.s4
per month.
The per cent of school age en-
rolled is, low in both the town and
country because there are SO many
years of age who do not start
to school at that age, and so many
of 81 who have completed the course
offered. But look at the next per
cent. The entire number Of pupils
enrolled in the rural schools is on-
ly 80 per cent Of the number Of
compulsory age (7-16) who should
be enrolled, while in town the entire
enrolment is 1872 per cest of the
number of compulsory school age.
Then notice the average daily at
tendance. The per cent of enroll
ment in attendance in towns is IS
per cent, while that Of the country
is only 20 per cent; or, there is
nearer one-third than one-fourth of
the entire enrolment absent every
day in the country schools. And
then consider that not nearly all OF
the pupils who should be in school
are enrolled. Estimating the num-
Der between 5-16 years Of age at
21OO, very low estimate, we find
that about 43 per cent or nearer one
half than one-third Of the boys and
girls Of the rural districts of Howard
county are absent every day.Doesnt 1t
seem as though we ought to be look
ing up the root Of the trouble and
doing something to give every boy
and girl his or. her rights?
Are you interested in finding where
the trouble lies? Then look a little
farther into the statistics and COM
pare the finances Of town and rural
schools. Notice that although there
were 1908. more children Of school
! age in the country than in town.
there were spent for them not quite
$500 more than for the town chill
dren. The cost per pupil Of school
age per year in town was $3o.S6,
against $17.25 in the country. Does
that mean anything to you? Does a
small investment in any kind Of
business ever pay? When small
investment means utter failure, does
MT q large investment usually mean
large returns? Then consider just the
financial failure Of the investment in
the country school. The pupil does
not get full value for the small
amount Of $17.25 which You expend.
When we find on the reports some
townships in which the average cost
per month for teachers alone, not
considering other expenses, is "a per
pupil, and in some single instances
$500 or $500 per pupil. can you
estimate what a small portion of
the $17.25 per year is really value
received by the pupil. and what a
large portion is practically thrown
! away.
| Parents when you are ready to
invest the necessary funds. when you
are interested enough to back up