CHAPTER XXI.

STATISTICS OF CITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

[Containing Tables 22 to 42.]

GENERAL STATISTICAL SURVEY.

I.- -CITIES OF 8,000 POPULATION AND OVER.

a

The statistics of the cities of the first group are summarized in Tables 22 to 29, inclusive, of this chapter, while the details upon which these summaries are based are contained in Tables 34 to 38, inclusive. It may be noted that the cities reporting this year a were identical with those reporting last year-a fact of interest when comparisons from year to year are made. Otherwise comparisons would be restricted largely to one phase, namely, the relative status of urban and rural schools.

While the statistics as a whole show only what may be termed normal variation from previous years, it is worthy of note that the increases over the previous year in expenditure and values are much greater than the increases in enrollment, attendance, etc. In the cities of the first group, for instance, the increase in enrollment over the previous year was 1.22 per cent, while the value of school property was greater by 5.09 per cent, the expenditures for tuition by 6.47 per cent, and the total expenditure by 4.31 per cent. The statistics of cities and villages of 4,000 to 8,000 population show even more marked differences between the increases in the items relating to personnel and in those relating to finances. The deduction is that more money is being paid each year per pupil for instruction, and, in fact, for all purposes. The increase in cost of operation from year to year undoubtedly has been influenced by the general economic conditions of the period, the increased cost of materials, etc., but the most significant deduction to be made from the facts noted is that teachers are receiving more money from year to year. This is further proved by the fact that the average yearly salary of all teachers and officers for 1905-6 was $755.01, while for the current year the average was $779.32. These figures confirm the well-known tendency toward better salaries for teachers throughout all sections of the country. In 1905-6 the amount paid per pupil in average attendance for supervision and teaching was $23.17, while in 1906-7 this item was $24.43. The total cost of the schools was $41.78 for 1905-6 for the same unit, and for 1906-7, $43.16.

a Partial report from Laramie, Wyoming, was received subsequently, and appears in Table 34.

The figures show also marked increases in the matter of the value of grounds, buildings, and equipment. In cities of the first group the value of school property for 1905-6 was reported as $477,653,449, while for 1906-7 this rose to $501,996,673—an increase of 5.09 per cent.

In the statistics of private and parochial schools the enrollment shows a decrease of 1.73 per cent. It is to be regretted that the reports of these schools, except in a few cities, are based upon estimates and are not exact. It is no longer a matter of private concern only, but an affair of public importance, to know the exact attendance upon the private schools, especially those of elementary grade, since this knowledge is necessary in the enforcement of compulsory education laws where such are in operation. It is to be hoped that with the more rigid enforcement of these laws better statistics may be obtainable from all schools under private control which correspond to the public schools.

The statistics for the year show a marked falling off in the number of supervising officers. In regard to this it may be readily assumed that no appreciable changes have occurred in fact, the apparent decrease being due to a less general distinction between teachers and supervising officers than has obtained heretofore. The term "supervising officers" in the statistics of previous years included those officials of the schools who gave more than half of their time to supervision and the remaining portion to class-room instruction, as well as those who were exclusively engaged in supervisory duties. All others engaged in the work of instruction were classed as teachers. The questionnaires sent out for the present year did not define the two classes of employees in accordance with the above distinction, and for that reason the replies received were subject more to individual understanding of what constituted supervisory officers than was previously the case.

Summary of statistics of cities containing over 8,000 inhabitants, showing increase from

previous year.

Evening schools.—A small decrease in the number of cities reporting evening schools is shown by the following table. The number of students, however, is increased by 489. In Table 35 will be found reported among the expenditures the total cost of evening schools for each city maintaining them. The financial data were not summarized, since a large number of cities do not report expenditures for day and for evening schools separately.

Summary of evening schools for 1906-7, showing increase from previous year.

II.

-CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES OF 4,000 TO 8,000 POPULATION.

As in the case of the cities of the first group, the number of cities and villages in this group was the same as in 1905-6. Below is given a table summarizing the leading items:

Summary of statistics of cities and villages containing from 4,000 to 8,000 inhabitants, showing increase from previous year.

In Tables 27 and 28 of this chapter are summarized the data given in detail in Tables 36 and 37 with respect to the number of pupils in each grade in 386 cities of 8,000 population and upward, and Tables 32, 33, 41, and 42 contain the corresponding data for the 366 smaller cities and villages reported. The 752 cities and villages of 4,000 population and over represented in these tables had a total enrollment of 2,712,639 pupils in the elementary and high schools alone, excluding kindergartens and special schools of all kinds. This represents

about half of the entire enrollment for the year in all cities and villages of 4,000 population and upward. The tables which follow show the distribution of pupils in the different grades, summarized by sex, for each of the two classes of cities and for the two combined. The figures showing the proportion of boys and of girls in the different grades indicate that the girls vary from grade to grade less than the boys. This, of course, is a confirmation of general knowledge as to the greater persistence of girls-a fact due to the larger industrial opportunities which begin to call the boys from school at an early age. Nineteen per cent of all pupils enrolled were in the first grade, and the percentage declines to 5 at the eighth grade.

The closer enforcement of existing compulsory education laws, and their adoption in places which have not heretofore passed laws of this character, will undoubtedly from year to year change these percentages. Statistics of grade enrollment may, then, from year to year be expected to show less abrupt breaks between consecutive grades. Irregular attendance is responsible in large degree for failure of promotion, and is the most frequent cause of the "repeater" in the different grades; and his presence in the same grade for parts of two or three years, in each of which he is reeni olled, has a marked effect upon the statistics on this subject. The congenital dullards, the subnormal children, who are not promoted because of their mental infirmities, bear a very small proportion to the whole number of students enrolled.

In the German Empire, where compulsory laws have been long in force and are executed very strictly, the enrollment in the eighth year is about two-thirds of that in the first. It must be considered in this connection, however, that in the older countries, where population is not increasing so rapidly as here and social conditions are otherwise more stable, greater uniformity will naturally be expected.

It is to be remembered that the ratios here shown do not give a proper index of elimination, because of the natural increase in population, and consequently the number of native children entering the first grade now is greater than was the number of children of corresponding age eight years ago, when the present eighth grade entered school. As for the increase in population by immigration, it may be assumed that families are less disposed to emigrate to a new country when the heads of these families have reached middle age or beyond, and have children old enough to enter the higher elementary grades, than are younger couples, who either are newly wed or whose children are of ter der age. The contribution to the lower grades from this source is considerable, while that to the higher grades is almost negligible. Even with the older children, ignorance of the language

The figures of enrollment by grade in the States of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington are taken from the printed school reports of these States. They are introduced to show the distribution when both rural and urban conditions are combined.

Grade distribution in 386 cities of 8,000 population and upward.

Grade distribution in 366 cities and villages of 4,000 to 8,000 population.