The interest on this sum is not far from $61,000.00. In the tables of the appendix, interest on the various sums is added to the expense of schools in the respective towns be cause interest is properly a school charge in the nature of rent. Schools are carried on in buildings erected with borrowed money, interest must be met by increased taxation, and to nothing but schools can this increased taxation be attributed. It is manifestly improper to overlook this charge in ascertaining the cost of education, and clearly right to show just how much this cost is increased by reason of this charge. If one district is in debt for its buildings and another is not, the former is paying more for every scholar in attendance than the latter, and the debt is the cause of the difference. These debts may be and generally are evidence of needed generosity toward schools. If good air, good heating, convenient rooms and appliances for teaching have been gained, schools are able and likely to accomplish more, and the money paid as interest is a prudent contribution to education. On the other hand there is no justification for frippery or extrava gance. ENUMERATION AND ATTENDANCE. Summary of Statistics, 1886-7. Number of children between 4 and 16 years of age, Number registered who were over 16 years of age, 3,667 Increase for the year, 140 Number of different scholars in public schools, 125,794 Increase for the year, 255 than public shools, Number of enumerated children in other schools Increase for the year, Number of children between 4 and 16 years of age Increase for the year, Number between 4 and 16 years of age in no school, as shown by enumeration returns of January, 1887, Increase for the year, 15,953 778 20,821 433 26,834 1,052 Number between 8 and 14 who attended no school, as shown by enumeration returns of January, 2,184 Percentage of whole number registered in the year, as compared with the number enumerated in Decrease for the year, Average attendance in winter, as compared with number enumerated in January, 1887, Decrease for the year, Average attendance in summer, as compared with number enumerated in January, 1887, Decrease for the year, Number of districts in which the average attendance for the year ending Aug. 31, 1887, was 8 or less, 53.68 .83 49.38 1.03 215 The following table gives enumeration, registration and attendance since 1866 with percentages. The school census made in January, 1887, showed : 1. That there were 153,260 persons between 4 and 16 years of age. If the ratio of 1880 still obtains, viz: 4.44 to 1, the population of the state is 680,474. 2. 126,426 were reported as having attended school. This attendance may have been for one or a few days only. It includes those who attended private as well as public schools, but would not include any over 16 years of age. 3. Of the whole number enumerated, 26,834 are reported as having attended no school. 4. Of these non-attendants, 10,203 were reported to be under 5, and 8,891 were between 5 and 8 years of age. Thus 19,094 were either too young to attend, or were below the compulsory limit. 5,556 were reported to be over 14, and had passed the compulsory limit. 5. We have left 2,184 non-attendants between 8 and 14, the limit of compulsory attendance. This is larger than last year by 268. The following table gives similar returns of enumeration. for five years: The number of children between 4 and 16 has annually increased since 1858. The average annual increase has been 1,726. In 1879, 86 out of every 100 children enumerated were enrolled in public schools, and 53 out of every 100 enumerated were in regular attendance. In 1887, 82 and 49 out of every 100 were enrolled and in attendance respectively. The fact which deserves attention is that a decreasing proportion of the persons enumerated attend school. Among the causes of this falling off are, 1. The large towns exclude all children under 5, and everywhere there is little disposition to send very young chil dren. 2. The limit of 60 days has become in many places the standard, and instead of long periods of attendance there have been long periods of work, with intervals of school. The law prohibiting employment of children under 13, would naturally increase the number in attendance; but so many advanced with a bound from 11 or 12 to 14, that in few schools has any increase from this cause been noted. The difficulties encountered in ascertaining the ages of children, whether by reference to town or school records, are very great. Without doubt many children under 13 are to-day escaping the provisions of the law relating to employment and attendance through false statements of parents. It cannot be too strongly insisted that this census should be taken at the right time and in the right way. The time in the middle of the school year is not opportune to the needs of schools. From September 1st to February 1st, there is little chance to note illegal absence, and there is abundant opportunity to avoid attendance. A census early in the school year,-in September or October,-would be a guide to the |