The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-10-05
GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

The American public school is experiencing stupendous growth and prosperity. The per centage of pupils in public schools in the United States compared to private schools is stead fly increasing through the years. The latest figures the subject, issued by the Depart ment of the Interior, shows that of elementary pupils about 92 per cent in public schools while S9 per cent in such institu- tions generation ago. Sixty per cent. of the pupils in the secondary schools attended institu- tions supported by the public in 1890 while 91 per cent. Of such pupils attended public school in 1926. Seventy-seven per cent of normal pupils went to public schools in 1890 but that number had grown to 9S per cent. by 1926 Where 13 per cent. of college students attended institutions supported by the public in 1890, 36 per cent attended institutions supported.
 The studies showing these changes made by the United States Bureau of Education Many very striking facts are revealed. There is, for instance, the rapidly increasing per capita amount of money that is being spent per pupil in the public elementary schools. In 1920, for instance, about $40 per pupil being spent That amount had ncerased to $59 by 1924 and in 1926 it was S63.
 In the 36 years that followed 1890 the attendance at colleges and universities increased 529 per cent During the same period the attendance at normal schools increased 676 per cent. These increases strkngly great but were below those of high schools (not in- cluding junicr high schools), which had than ten pupils in 1926 where they had one in 1890 The increase here was 1,055 per cent
 The most striking fact in the study, how ever, is the steadily and rapidly decreasing birth rate in the United States which affects the number of pupils entering the schools each year and which may become an outstanding racial phenomena in the future That number may become stationary despite an in- creasing population
 'The reduction in the birth rate' says the Bureau of Education lis fact that should not be overlooked This rate has dropped from 25.1 per thousand population in 1915 in the registration area, to 20.6 in 1926. This area included 91 per cent. of the whole population in 1915, and 76 per cent. in 1925. Infant mortality rates have dropped off materially dur ing this 1o-year period The rate was approx- mately 102 per thousand live births in 1915 and TIT in 1925 Applying the birth rate and the infant mortality rate for each year. this means that 22.5 children per thousand of the population reached the age of 1 year in 1916, and less than 20 per thousand in 1926 Apply ing the same rates to the estimated population for each year indicates that 2,239,Oo0 children reached their first birthday in 1916, and 2,292,- 900 reach it in 1926 This is an increase of a little over 5O,O00 in 10 years
 Any material decrease in the birth rate must in time have its influence upon the num- Der Of children who old enough to enter school for the first time each year. Restricted immigration further reduces the number of say 6-year-old children. It is quite evident that the number of 6-year-old children is not in- creasing very rapidly from year to year The 1850 census may show lttle if any increase m the number of children ready to enter school over the number shown in the 1920 cen sus. If these conditions exist for a num- Der of years, school enrolments will reach a stationary period, especially in the lower grades
 The enrolment in all classes of schools combined amounted in 1926 to thirty-one million pupils.