New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-28
REPORT ON RURAL SCHOOLS
CONCLUSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE OF
TWELVE OF THE ~ E. A.
VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE RURAL SCHOOL PROF.
LEM DfsCUSSED-LARGER scHooiS
DEsIRABIE-THE TRAINING


OF TEACHERS
Washington. June 27-The report OF the comm".
tee OF Twelve on Rural Schools in the United
States appointed at the convention o. the Natoha'
Educational Association in July. 1895. has been conn
plete1 and will be submitted at the next annuai
gathering. II Is one OF the most Important "oou-
ments relating to schools that have appeared SINCE
the pronunciation OF the report OF the COMMITTEES
OF Ton on Secondary Education In this country q
couple o. years ago The committee CONSISTS OF
Henry sabin. O. Iowa: ID. L. Kehle. OF Minnesota
A. y. Poland OF New-York: c. e. Rounds, OF New'
Hampshire: J. II. Phillips OF Alabama: b. A. Inns
dale, OF Michigan: 8. T. Black. OF California; w .
Sutton. Of Texas; T.. f WoH. OF Missouri "
William T Harris United States Commissioner OF
Education; T. b. Evans OF Georgia. and c. r.
Skinner OF New-York.
The report discusses the rural school problem In
the different aspects Of school maintenance super
vision. supply of teachers and instruction and us
cipne Each Of these subjects was IN charge OF
n subcommittee OF three. their work being re-
viewed by the entire committee.
The report says that for purposes o. ORGANIZATION
maintenance supervision. nothing snouih DC
recognized az the unit smaller than the township
the county. The schoo! district IL the most
undesirable unit possible Enecting this change
wherever the district system prevails would eonduce
TO effectiveness and simplicity OF organization
economy In funds equalization OF taxation ana
system OF supervision which would produce better
results. All the subcommittee favor the CONSOLE
dalton of schools which are too small TO employ
profltably the time OF teacher, into larger
schools. when practicable. In order that better
instruction may be provided than is now possible
Every community should be required 10 raise
certain sum for the support OF It's schools AZ
prerequisite FIR receiving its share Of public
money. 4 certain definite sum should be appro-
prated 10 each school out Of the State funds. and
the remainder should be divided in accordance with
some established rule. some discrimination being
made In favor of townships most willing TO tax
themselves for school purposes
One Of the great hindrances to the Improvement
Of the rural school lies In its isolation. and Its In
ability TO furnish to the pupil that stimuaiye In
fiuence which comes from contact with Others Of
his own age and advancement The committee
therefore, recommends collecting pupils from small
schools into larger ones. and paying from the pub
lie funds for Their transportation. believing that IN
rational methods OF instruction adopted. and at the
same time. the expense OF the school materially
essened There II a tendency 10 I'LL the rural
schools with unframed. immature teachers The
estaDlisnment OF normal training schools. under
DO eT 0c w n sna pc complete in Itself would
The extension and adjustment Of the courses and
t.rms OF the State normal schools SO as TO con-
contribute more directly than now to the improve
In e or the teachers Of rural schools The State
OF professional training from every teacher in the
rural as well as in the city schools.
The establishment Of libraries the prosecution Of
the work OF school extension by lectures and other
means, the Introduction OF such studies : will
nave tendency 10 connect the school and the
home. especially those having a direct bearing
upon the everyday life OF the community and the
necessity of applying the laws of sanitation 10 the
construction Of rural schoolhouses demand imme-
date attention
The rural schools are suffering from the want OF
official and intelligent supervision In every State
lectual, with some amount OF actual experience.
should be demanded by law from those who aspire
10 fill the office Of superintendent supervisor OF
schools.
Good morals and good manners constitute an
essential part OF an educational equipment The
incucation OF patriotism. OF respect for law and
order. OF whatever tends TO make good citizen Is
or as much Importance In small In a larger
school Regularity, punctuality. obedience. In
dustry sef-contro are as necessary in the country
as in the city school Country school-teach ers
should call 70 their aid the beautiful things In
nature.
Some important recommendations are made in
the report as 10 instruction and discipline and the
evils OF attempting to grade rural schools tho
city schools are graded are set out at length. In
county centre. once twice year. competitive
examinations are not recommended, unless they
are carefully guarded. The feature OF social in
tercourse. the stimulus which comes from meeting
with ones mates. has advantages which ought not
to be neglected.
negro teachers for negro schools II says that the
instinct OF the educational development OF the
negro must be from within and by the itself
and not solely through extraneous agencies: that
the Intellectual and moral dependence Of the race
must not be perpetuated. and that the responsible
and means for race elevation. The conclusion
reached is that the instinct Of identity renders
Impossible the realization of ideal relation be.
tween the white teacher and the negro pupil.