The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-29
REPORT ON RURAL SCHOOLS.
Conclusions of the Committee of
the y. Il. A.

'~ss-' the y Il. a.
The report of the committee of twelve on
| rural schools in the United States, APP
| pointed at The convention OF the National
| Educational Association in July, 1895, has
| been completed and viii be submitted at
the next annual gathering. II is one OF
| the most important documents relating
to schools that have appeared since the
PRONUNCIATION of the report of the committee
of ten on secondary education in this coun-
try couple of years ago. The committee
consists of Henry Sabin OF Iowa, ID. l..
Kicnle of Minnesota, A. Il. Poland of New
York, c. c. Rounds of New Hampshire,
j. II. Phillips of Alabama, b. A. Hinsdalc
of Michigan, s. T Black of Cal fornia, w.
S. Sutton of Texas, L. E. Wolf of Missouri,
DIR. William T Harris, United States Com
missioner OF Educaton; l.. b. Evans OF
Georgia and C. X. Skinner of New York.
The report discusses the rural school
problem in the different aspects OF school
maintenance, supervision, supply of teach
ers and instruction and discipline. Each
of these subjects was in charge of sub
committee of three, their work being re-
viewed by the entire committee.
The report says that for purposes Of
OTSdulLdIiOE,
nothing should be recognized az the unit
smaller than the township or the county.
The school district is the most undesirable
unit possible. Effecting this change where
ever district system prevails would cOnduCe
to effectiveness and simplicity of Organiza
ton, economy in funds, equalization Of
taxation and system Of supervision which
would produce better results. All tie sub
committees favor the consolidation OF schools
which are too small to employ profItably the
time OF one teacher, into larger schools,
When practicable, in order that better in
struct!on may be provided than is now
possible.
Every community should lie required to
raise certain sum for the support Of its
schools as Il prerequisite for receiving its
share of public money. y certain definite
sum should he appropriated to each school
out of the State funds, and the remainder
should lie divided in accordance with some
established rule, some discrimination be-
ing made in favor of townships most will
ing TO tax themselves for school purposes.
One of the great hindrances to the i'm
provement of the rural school lies In its
isolation and its inability TO furnish to the
pupil that stimulative influence which
comes from contact with OF lers OF his own
age and advancement The committee
therefore, recommends collecting pupils
from small schools into LARGER ores aud
paying from the public funds for their
transportation, believing that In this way
better teachers can be provided, more ra-
tional II ethods OF Instruction adopted, and
at the same time the expense OF the school
taf iaIl Ia 1..SS naI 10 10
L. fill the rural schools with untr aimed, i'm
mature teachers The establishment II
norma training schools, under competent
instructors, with short courses, each year
of which shall he complete in itself would
do much 20 remedy the evil.
The extension and adjustment OF the
courses and terms of the State normal
schools so as 20 constitute a continuous
session would enable them TO contributes
more directly than now 60 the Improvement
of the teachers Of rural schools. The State
would then be justified in demanding some
degree Of professional training from every
teacher in the rural as well as In the city
schools.
Tie establishment of libraries. the prose
cution OF the work of school extension
by lectures and other means: the intrctuc-
ton OF such studies will have a tendency
TO connect the school and the home, cs-
peCially those having n direct bearing upon
the evcryda ylife OF the community and the
necessity OF appl yiEg thelaws Of sanitation
to the construction OF rural schoolhouscs,
demand immediate attention.
The rural schools are suffering from the
want OF official and intelligent suparvi-
sion. Ia every State some standard OF
qualification, moral and intellectual, with
some amount OF actual experience, should |
be demanded bylaw from those who aspire |
To fill the office of superintendent or su-
pervisoT CT schools.
Good morals and good manners constitute |
an essential part OF an educational equip |
ment. The incubation OF patriotism, Of |
respect icT law and order. OF whatever |
tends 10 make good citizen, is OF as much |
Importance IN n small as in a Ia rger school. |
Regularity, punctuality, obedience, indus |
try. sclf-control, are as necessary in he |
country as in the city school Country |
school teachers should call 10 their aid the |
beautiful things in nature.
Some Important recommendation are /
made in the report a TO instruction and |
discipline. and the evils OF attempting TO |
grade rural schools as the city schools arc /
graded are set out at length. In connec- /
ton with school exercises at the town or
county center. once or twice a year. COM |
petitlve examinations are not recommended,
unless they are carefully guarded The
feature or social intercourse, the stimulus
" hich comes from meeting with ones
mates, has advantages which ought not
TO he neglected
There is embodied an interesting report.
urging negro teachers for negro schools.
lt says that the instinct of the educational
Development OF the negro must he from
within and by the race itself. and not
solely through eXtraneous agencies: that
the Intellectual and moral dependence Of
the race must not he perpetuated, and that
the responsibility OF teaching his own race
furnishes incentives and means for race
elevation. The conclusion reached is that
the instinct Of race identity renders impos-
dhle the realization of an ideal relation
between the white teacher and the negro |
pupil.
DEPARTMENTAL PERSONALS,