The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-20
d. Fl. r. Bonner,
Education Bureau,
Clues Statistics


! DR.. H. R. Bonner of Washington.
d. G.. who IS here to take the part OF
George Washington. the hero in the
pageant. The Patriot of Mt. Vernon"
and to address the National Rural
School Conference at the Auditorium
this week. is the specialist IN educa-
tienal statistics for the National Blu
Teau Of Education His home is in
West Virginia and his colleague. DIR.
H. l. McBrien. says he has accom-
lplished for the progress OF education
in this country more than any other
man who ever occupied that position.
When asked by a News repres entatiye
for some OF the high points in eduea-
tional statistics, DR.. Bonner said:
1T is well for us TIC pause OCCASION
ally TO survey the progress we have
made. This survey is especially inn
portant in the field of education. since
the future efficiency OF our citizens
viii depend very largely on the ell
cheney of our schools.
a recent study made by the Z. s
bureau of Education reveals in no un-
certain way the educational efficiency
OF those who have gone beyond the
influence OF cur schools and colleges
IL is found thai the average citizen of
today has completed only 1917 days
Iof schooling. This amounts to less
than six years OF schooling for each
spersoh in the United States who has
quit school. Are we content to see
our boys and girls pass beyond the
influence of our schools with such an
average preparation for the duties of
Ilife7 II all the schooling of the av-
erage citizen. could be given continu-
lously il would last little less than
three years OF 365 days each. AS the
average person who has passed the
age of FIVE years IS expected 10 live
81 years, it is found that our school
ing covers a period OF only one-nine-
iteenth Of our lifetime While some
ing over one billion OF dollars annu-
ally on our public schools, yet this
amount is only sufficient TO educate
the nation for one-nineteenth of the
lifetime OF its average citizen, who is
ioid enough to be educated.
This condition can be remedied TO
/ a certain extent by a more rigorous
reinforcement OF our compulsory at
tendance laws. The laxity in such
laws and in their enforcement is re
vealed when Il IS recalled that We now
waste % per cent OF the school term
actually provided. Out OF the 100
days Of schooling offered each year in
the C. 5. the average pupil attends
only 100 DAYS. or three-fourths OF the
time. This enormous waste cost the
Tinted States il 1915 the appalling
amount OF 1874 millions of dollars
letter compulsory attendance law
would undoubtedly reduce this irregu-
Elarity in attendance resulting in a de-
crease in the amount Of money as
good as wanted en- public education.
1T seems only fair to the taxpayers
that the states should see that chill
dren be kept regularly in school for
the whole term provided
Another very vital problem con
fronting school administrators is that
of reducing the proportion Of children
who are repeating the work Of the
various grades, especially in the first
grade. In 1918 il was fonad that Tor
every 1000 children actually entering
school for the first time there We're
.alo other children repeating the
work of this grade This repetition
lof work IN the first grade IS greater.
lof course in the rural than in city
schools. Ia SO city school systems it
has been found recently that there
ARE only $50 repeaters in the first
grade for each 1.G9e beginners. This
lenormous amount Of repetition in the
first grade involves about one-tenth Of
the children attending the public
schools number greater than that
representing the total enrolment in
Ioar high schools The first grade usu
Iallv includes many children >. 6 or
wears OF age. At these early ages
VERY few children are required to at
tend schosl. Compulsory attendance
laws usually operate upon children
between I or S years aud II or 4
wears Of age. They should undOubt
iedlv be expanded 50 as TO secure
regularity OF attendance on the par
of all children who desire TO entel
the public schools 4 bad start IL
lscaool results later il delinquency
and otter n an early withdrawal from
lschool. When children in the frs