The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-07
THE RURAL SCHOOLS.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON GDuoA-
TON IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

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ehstsss Hsssntial Parts Of IN Edusataeaal
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Nero rssoSsrs For Negro ssheels.
The report Of the committee Of
twelve on rural schools In the United
Statea appointed at the convention Of
the National Educational association,
has been completed and will be submit
ted at the next annual gathering. Il ID
one Of the most important documents on
school education that has appeared
! since the PRONUNCIATION of the report of
the committee of ten ON secondary edu-
! cation in this country couple Of years
ago.
| The committee consists Of Henry Sa-
hin of Iowa, d. l.. Kiehle of Minnesota,
A. B. Poland of New York. O. O..
Rounds of New Hampshire, j. H. Phil
lips of Alabama, b. A. Hinsdale OF
Michigan, S. T. Black Of California,
w. s. Sutton Of Texas, l.. e. Wolf Of
Missouri, United States Commissioner
of Education Harris, l.. +. Evans of
Georgia and @. r. Skinner of New
York.
The report says that for purposes OF
organization, maintenance or super
vision nothing should be recognized as
the unit smaller than the township or
the county. The school district is the
most undesirable pnit possible. Effect
ing this change wherever the district
system prevails would conduce to effect
iveness and simplicity Of organization,
economy in funds, equalization Of tax
alton and to q system OF supervision
which would produce better results.
All the subcommittees favor the cen
solidation of schools which are too
small to employ proftably the time Of
one teacher into larger schools. when
practicable, in order that better instruc-
tion may be provided than is now pos
sible. Every community should be in
duced to raise certain sum for the
support of its schools as prerequisite
for receiving its share Of public money.
A certain definite sum should be ap-
propriated to each school out Of the
state funds, and the remainder should
be divided in accordance with some
fixed and established rule, discrimina-
tion 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 inability to furnish
to the pupil that stimulative influence
which comes from contact with others
Of his own age and Advancement. The
committee, therefore, recommends COL
lecting pupils from smaller schools into
larger and paying from the public funds
for their transportation, believing that
in this way better teachers can be pro-
vided. more rational methods Of in
struction adopted and at the same time
the expense Of the schools can be mate
rally lessened.
There IL q tendency to fill the rural
schools with unframed, immature
teachers The establishment Of normal
training schools, under competent In
structofs, with short courses, each year
of which shall be complete in itself,
would do much to remedy this evil.
The extension and adjustment Of the
courses and terms of the state normal
schools 30 az to constitute continuous
session would enable them to contribute
more directly than now to the improve
ment Of the teachers of rural schools.
The state would then be justified in de-
manding some degree of professional
training from every teacher in the rural
as we'll as IL, the city schools.
The establishment of libraries, the
prosecution of the work of school cxten-
sion by lectures and other means, the
introduction of such studies as will
have a tendency to connect the school
and the home, especially those having
direct bearing upon the everyday life
of the community, and the necessity of
applying the laws of sanitation to the
construction Of rural schoolhouses de-
mand immediate attention.
The rural schools are suffering from
the want Of official and intelligent su-
pervision. In every state some standard
of qualifications, moral and intellectual,
with some amount Of actual experience,
should be demanded by law from those
who aspire to fill the Office of superiD-
tendent or supervisor Of schools.
Good morals and good manners con-
stitute an essential part of an educa-
tional equipment. The inculcation Of
patriotism, or respect for law and order.
or whatever tends to make good citi-
zen, is Of as much importance in small
as In large school. Regularity, pune
tuality, obedience, industry, self con-
troll, are as necessary in the country as
in the city school. Country school
teachers should call to their aid the
beautiful things in nature.
Some important recommendation are
made as to instruction and discipline,
and the evils of attempting to grade
rural schools as the city schools are
graded are set out at length. In connec-
tion with school exercises at the town
or country center once or twice year
competitive examinations are not rec
IL -