The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-29

that $3.50 be paid for transporting the twelve
pupils TO the better house-which amount
believe would be in excess of the actual
cost-here is a saving of $40, to say nothing
or the cost of the new house which would
otherwise have to be built. And this in adj
dltion to the other benefits / have enumer-
ated, which cannot be computed in dollars
and cents.
OF this plan would be the beginning of
more efficient condition in our district public
schools. believe 1t would ultimately make
all our schools graded schools. Division of
la Dor is the herald of progress in both ma
ture and society-in educational as in COM
mercial and industrial affairs. And yet the
schools, by the force of circumstances, are
the last to profit by this element of success.
The ideal school is one which is properly
graded. with a special teacher for each
grade In such a school only is there that
economy Of labor which tends to the best
interest of the child. And though it may not
be possible to fully achieve this at present,
believe that the time for such grading OF
schools is rapidly approaching and that the
discussion will be one important step in that
direction. 1 believe that the success of
adoption and that any prejudice against or
opposition to it would soon disappear under
the influences growing out of better condi-
ton in the district schools
FIGURES AS TO THE SAVING.
J. H. Grover, superintendent of Clinton
county, followed Mr.. Harris, and gave some
actual figures as to the saving that might
result from the combination of schools. In
one instance he had two schools in 1896, one
of which was conducted at an average cost
of 81 a day. Last year this school was
consolidated with another, and all of this
cost saved except 81 a day, which was paid
for transporting the pupils to the other
school. In MichigantoWn there are three
teachers in a five-room building. Within
three miles of the town there are six other
schools, five Of which have an average of
twenty pupils each. These five could be
abolished and the pupils placed in the
graded MichigantoWn school by the ad-
ditton of two teachers to that school, and
the salaries of the other three teachers
would more than twice pay for transporting
the pupils to town. And this arrangement
would give one hundred pupils the greater
advantage of a good graded school.
The question was further discussed by w.
r.. Carroon, of Veedersburg, and Others all
Of whom were in full accord with the ideas
advanced in the main paper
County Superintendent Calvin F. McIn-
tosh, of Owen county, drew an impressive
word picture of the needs of the rural
schools of better supervision than is now
possible under the existing system. He said
that under the present conditions the coun-
try schools are nothing more than practice
grounds for inexperienced teachers, where
they can learn how to teach at the expense
of the education of the children under their
charge, and then go to the towns and cities
where their services are demanded as soon
as they are competent to take better
schools He thought the system of having
and had come to stay, but that it should be
greatly changed or that the superintendent
should be supplemented by the addition of
one or more supervisors or critics to look
personally after the work of the teachers.
Mr.. Mcintosh said. his own experience
showed that it is impossible for a county
superintendent to spend more than two to
four hours with each teacher during a
school year. This is on account of the vast
amount OF mere clerical work that super
intendents are compelled to do, which might
be done by any competent teacher. He also
advocated a longer term of office for the
superintendent on the ground that every
superintendent has his own ideas as to or
ganiZation and management Of the schools,
and that it is impossible to put these ideas
in operation and bring the operation to q
point of perfection which can be appre-
ciated by those not parties to it within the
term of office. Then new superintendent
comes in and finds conditions that he cam
not see are advantageous, and discards the
old system for his own, only to have 1T
discarded in turn two years later.
DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
Mr.. Mcintosh made a strong plea for
better supervision of the district schools.
He said that the need of good supervision
had long been recognized by the towns and
cities and that now the urban schools were
rapidly broadening the breach that sepa-
rates them from the rural schools. and all
account of the expert supervision of
the city schools. AS long as the small dis
trict school exists in its present form, he
said, there would be very few normal
school graduates in them and this only
emphasizes the need of supervision.
The paper of Mr.. Mcintosh was dis
cussed by Superintendent w. o. Baker, Of
Morgan county; M. w. Deputy, Jennings
county; c. "A. Van Matre, Delaware coun-
ty, and W. E. Wineburg, of Wayne coun-
ty, the latter two taking exceptions to the
main paper. Neither of them thought it
best to hire supervisors to visit the schools.
but advocated the idea of consolidated
schools to take the place of the district
schools, thus making supervision easy.
Both advocated the ideas advanced by Mr..
Harris Mr.. Wineburg, being the pioneer
superintendent in the consolidation of
schools gave some figures OF interest. In
Webster township five schools have been
consolidated into one graded school, with
four teachers The township hires two
wagons at $140 a year each and they haul
all pupils living more than two miles from
the graded school. He said that in fuel,
cost of teachers repairs, etc, this township
was now saving 500 a year and giving
school advantages fully 100 per cent. bet
ter than they formerly had.