New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-06
THE PROBLEM or RURAL SCHOOLS.

THE PROBLEM OF RURAL SCHOOLS.
One of the most important matters to come
before the National Education Convention that
is to meet In milwaukee, to-day will lie
the report of the committee Of twelve on rural
schools appointed at the last convention. The
members Of this committee are representative
educators. and they have devoted great deal
of time and thought to the question submitted
TO them According to synopsis OF the report
which has been published. all of the problems
relating TO rural schools are Thoroughly dis
cussed, and helpful suggestions for their i'm
prOvement are made
At the outset the report declares that for
purposes OF organization, maintenance or super
vision the old district system Is no longer
desirable, and should be supplanted by the
township system. which is already in success
full operation in many States. 1t may be said
here, in passing that every New-lork state
Superintendent of Schools since 1850 has con-
demned the district system as an obstacle 10.
healthy progress in education. and as DONG
more than anything else TO keep the rural
schools out of touch with new and improved
methods of education. And in his last report
Superintendent Skinner who is a member OF
the committee OF twelve. by the way. calls
special attention TO the need OF reform IN thls
matter. With the district as unit 1t otten
happens that school has to he maintained Tor
half dozen pupils or even less, thereby entail
ing a great and needless expense on the tax
PAYERS Indeed. within the last few years cases
have arisen where there was only one chld or
school age in district; yet the school had 10
he maintained and q teacher employed. just as
though the pupils numbered fifty or hundred.
Under the township system this would not be
possible. It's root principle Is the consolidation
of small and weak schools into one or more
strong schools, so that more and better teach
ers NAV be employed, and higher standard
of teaching may be made possible, while mt the
same time the cost Of mainteI ance VIII be rela-
lively less than under the old system. In view
OF these obvious advantages OF the township
system the wonder is that the antiquated dis
trlct system has continued so long.
But it IS evident that It's days are numbered.
Indiana was the first State to adopt the town
shin system. and Massachusetts speedily fol-
lowed 1t has also been introduced In New
Hampshire, Vermont. Connecticut, Rhode ISL
and and TO some extent IN Ohio and New-York.
In Massachusetts where II has been most large
" adopted. II has been a gratifying success
In the last report Of the United States Commits
sloncr of Education, in which the whole ques-
ton is exhaustivcly treated, the Massachusetts
State Agent of Schools Is quoted as saying that
there IS decided tendency on the part OF IN
tellignnt and progressive communities to close
small schools in remote districts. and TO trans
port children under careful custodlans to the
graded schools of the villages, where better
classification and better teaching are the rule.
The system furnishes more weeks of schooling.
lnsures the employment OF higher grade Of
teachers. stimulates the pupils. makes possible
a broader culture we'll ms better equipped
schoOlhouses and more complete school equip
mcnt In 1859 the State passed law author
lZing towns to pay for the transportation OF
pupils TO and from school, And in 1S9495
213 towns had availed themselves Of the law, at
n total expense for transportation Of SI66OS 20.
or course. the question OF transportation Is
more easily solved in n compact and thickly
settled State like Massachusetts, but there are
few States IN which 1t presents insuperable
difficulties One thing Is certain: the efficiency
and growth of rural schools can best be pro-
NOTED by their reorganization on the general
lines of the township system. with such modf-
cations as special circumstances may suggest.
The old system has outllved its usefulness. In
bis last report Supern tendent Skinner Of this
State declared that there are In thc State 5000
school districts with an average attendance Of
less than .tcn pupils, and he added these sig
nifcant words: The ambitions and rivalries
"of the students incentives to greater excrtion
ION the part Of the pupils--which prevailed
thirty years ago In these country districts no
"longer exist"