The New York herald., 1921-11-03
TEN MILLIONS FAIL
TO ATTEND SCHOOL
OF School Population OF 49,
100000 Regular Registra-
ton About $4,000, 1000.
NIGHT CLASSES INCREASE
Desire for Education Shows
Material Growth Through
out United States.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Nov. 2.
Thirty per cent. Of the school popula-
tion Of the United States fails to take
advantage OF the facilities of the public
DAY schools. II was shown in report
issued to-day by the U. s. Census Bu-
reau The bureau defines the school
population as including all persons be-
tween 5 and 20 years of age.
Approximately 100000 600 persons are
listed In the school population. The
number regularly registered in day
schools. however. Is but slightly in ex-
cess Of 100000
Commissioner Tigert of the Bureau
OF Education and bureau officials to-day
were studying the census report in con-
nectIon with reports for the nation on
illiteracy. Tigert recently called the at
tention of the country to the fact that
25 per cent. of the men In the American
Expeditionary Forces were unable to
read or write.
That the desire for education is very
materially increasing throughout the
United States however. was pointed out
by bureau officials. They pointed to the
record attendance this year at schools
and colleges throughout the country.
Although the exact figures on the total
attendance at colleges are not yet avail
able, II is known that the freshmen
classes are the largest in history. This
indicates that a very much larger pro-
portion OF young men and women are
finishing high school courses.
Educational officers OF both public
and private institutions for years have
lobored to increase the attendance at
high schools. Hundreds of thousands OF
young men and girls leave the school in
the grades. some stopping even at the
sixth grade. In the last five years State
laws requiring school attendance up to
IA and Is years have decreased very
largely the number of boys and girls
who leave school with their education
incomplete. In most States the consent
OF school officials or OF the Juvenile
courts Is required before a student may
leave the grade school to go to work.
The demand for work certificates began
to show the increase when economic de-
preston spread over the country. Boys
and girls OF school age wanted to leave
their studies to help fatten the family
pocketbook.
An increase in attendance at night
school has resulted In most States where
unemployment is mCst widespread. Off
cials OF the Bureau Of Education call
this encouraging. II shows. they said
to-day, that the need for educational
equipment is being more generally recog-
nized. Schools conducted at night by
the Y. M. c. A. and big manufacturing
concerns are swamped with applications
for admittance
In most cities boards Of education are
rushing to completion new buildings to
accommodate the large number of stu
dents registered in the grade schools.
With the termination Of economic de-
preston the demand for school facilities
will increase 1t is recognized. Building
programmes extending over a period OF
five years are being worked out In most
large cities. At the same time that the
now buildings provide space for addi-
tional students, their construction will
make jobs for their fathers The benefit
to the community therefore Is twofold.
officials point out.