The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-28
OUR COUNTRY SCHOOLS
INTERESTING REPORT FROM A COM
MITTEE OF EDUCATORS.
Intelligent Supervision Lacking in
Also an EviI-Recommendat

WASHINGTON, June 27.-The report of
the committee of twelve on rural schools
in the United States, appointed at the con-
vention Of the National Educational Asso-
citation in July. 1895, has been completed
and viii be submitted at the next annual
gathering. 1t is one of the most important
documents on school education that has
appeared since the PRONUNCIATION of the
report of the committee of ten on second
airy education in this country a couple Of
years ago. The committee consists of
Henry Sabin, of Iowa. D. L. Kiehl. of
Minnesota A. B. Boland, of New York
c. C. Rounds. of New Hampshire; J. H
Phillips, of Alabama; B. A. Hinsdale of
Michigan; s. T. Black, of California; w
S. Sutton, of Texas; L. Z. Wolf. of Mis-
souri,; United States Commissioner of Edu-
cation Harris; L. B. Evans, of Georgia.
and c. +. Skinner, of New York. The re-
port discusses the rural school problem in
the different aspects Of school maintenance
supervision, supply of teachers and instruc-
ton and discipline. Each of these subjects
was in charge of a subcommittee, their
work being reviewed by the entire commit
tee.
The report says that for purposes of Or
gantzation, maintenance or supervision,
nothing should be recognized as the unit
smaller than the township or the county.
The school district is the most undesirable
unit possible. Directing this change wher-
ever the district system prevails would
conduce to effectiveness and simplicity Of
organization economy of funds, equaliza-
ton of taxation and to system of super
yxyI~i ob
All the subcommittee favor the consolda-
ton Of schools which are too small to en-
ploy profitably the time of one teacher
into larger schools, when practicable, in
order that better instruction may be pro-
vided than is now possible Every COM
munity should be required to raise GER
tain sum for the support of its schools as
prerequisite for receiving it's share Of
public money. A certain definite sum
should be appropriated to each school out
OF the State funds, and the remainder
should be divided in accordance with some
fixed and established rule, q discrimination
being made in favor of townships most
willing to tax themselves for school pur-
poses.
One Of the great hindrances to the inn
provement of the rural school lies in its
isolation and it's 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 collecting pupils
from small schools into larger and paying
from the public funds for their tranSporta-
ton, believing that in this way better
teachers cap be provided, more rational
methods of Instruction adopted and at the
same time the expense of the schools can
be materially lessened
There is tendency to fill the rural
schools with unframed, immature teachers.
The establishment Of the normal training
schools, under competent instructors, with
short courses, each year Of which shall be
n would
this evil. The extension and adjustment
of the courses and terms of the state nor
mai schools so as TO constitute d contLl-
uous session would enable them to con-
tribute more directly than now to the i'm
proVement of the teachers of rural schools.
The State would then be JuStled IN de-
handing some degree of professional train
ing from every teacher in the rural as well
as in the city schools.
The establishment of libraries, the prose-
cution. of the work of school extension lee
lures and other means, the introduction OF
such studies as will have tendency to
connect the school and the nome, especially
those having a direct bearing upon the
everyday life of the community, and the
necessity of applying the laws OF SANTA
ton to the construction of rural school
houses, demand immediate attention.
The rural schools are suffering from the
want of official and intelligent supervision.
In every State some standard of qualinca-
tions moral and Intellectual with some
amount of actual experience, should be de-
manded by law from those who aspire 10
or of schools.
Good morals and good manners constitute
an essential part of an educational equip
ment The incubation Of PATRIOTISM, OF re-
spect for law and order, of whatever tends
to make a good citizen, is of as much I'M
portance in a small as in a larger schooI.
Regularity, punctuality, obedience, INDUS
try self-control, are as necessary IN the
country as in the city school. Country
school teachers should call to their ald the
beautiful things in nature.
Some important recommendat1onS are
made as to the instruction and discipline
and the evils of attempting to grade rural
schools as the city schools are graded are
set out at length. In connection with scnooI
exercises at the town or county center,
once or twice a year, competitive eXamlna-
tions are not recommended unless they are
carefully guarded. The feature OF social
intercourse the stimulus which comes from
meeting with ones mates, have advantages
which ought not to be neglected. There IS
embodied an interesting report urging ne
gro teachers for negro schools. IL says
fhe instinct of the educational development
of the negro must be from within ana by
the race itself and not solely through eX-
traneOus agencies; that the intellectual ana
moral dependence of the race must not De
Iernetuated and that the responsibility Oh
feaching his own race furnishes incentives
ond means for race elevation: me con-
cinsion reached is that the instinct or race
identitv renders impossible the reallzatlon
Of an ideal relation between the Whte
taa cher and the negro pupil.