13S 



SIXTH REPORT — 183G. 



It is evident from this comparison that after making the most ample 

 allowance for accidental omissions and for the private schools not in- 

 cluded in the Bristol returns, the state of education in this city is far 

 from satisfactory, looking merely to the number of the children recei- 

 ving instruction. 



Classified according to age, the returns obtained exhibit 



Per cent, of 



Under 5 years 



Between 5 and 15 years. . . . 

 Above 15, or not specified. . 



Scholars. 



1290 



12,630 



797 



14,717 



13-08 



Est. No. of 



Scholars. 



8-77 



85-82 



5-41 



100-00 



It has been usual to employ an analysis of this sort for the purpose 

 of showing the proportion of the instructed and uninstructed in the 

 youthful population, but the author pointed out the fallacy of assuming 

 that because the numbers at any one time under instruction between 

 the ages of five and fifteen fall greatly short of the proportion between 

 the same ages in the population at large (taken by the Manchester 

 Statistical Society at twenty-five per cent.), the whole of those thus 

 unaccounted for must be entirely without instruction. It is evident 

 that a great number of children may receive instruction for short inter- 

 vals and from time to time, though not being at school when the returns 

 are made, they would appear among those unaccounted for, and consi- 

 dered uninstructed. The only mode to obtain correct results on this 

 point, would be to ascertain the number under instruction, according 

 to their several ages, from year to year, between five and fifteen, and 

 then to compare these numbers with those of the same ages in the po- 

 pulation at large at the same time. From the neglect of this distinc- 

 tion, some very startling results, which can hardly be received as true, 

 have been laid before the public on high statistical authority. 



