Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-06-19
THE RURAL SCHOOLS.
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM IN ONE
OHIO TOWN.

rora, Ohio, Is from correspondence of the New
York Tribune. and Is published by rcqucss)
The solution of the question of the ad-
vancement OF the rural schools not only
to be on level with the village and city
schools, and to give the boys and girls
OF the farm the education that the times
demand, Is a matter not to be hastily dis
posed Of. The country dwellers are en-
titled TO y better education than they are
getting 10 the main. These country
schools have limited course OF study,
almost primer course; they are pre-
sided over largely by young and inex.
perienced teachers; the text books are
rarely ever conned to the last page, and
repetition OF old lessons, term after
term, graduates the rural scholar at
about fifteen years Of age, when In the
graded schools the graduating age Is
above eighteen years. There is move
ment In many Of the states looking TO
the solving OF the problem OF these
farmer children's schools.
movement. The township Of Aurors is
= strictly rural farm town In Northern
Ohio. Scarcely head OF family but
lives upons farm, and Its few retired
citizens are chiefly farm owners. The
township Is fve miles square, aud, all
told, numbers = population Of $50 OF all
ages. Within Its limits were ten district
schools, with an attendance Of from six
to forty pupils each. IL became evident
that they were not attaining the desired
aim aud end Of q good education, and
slAnrk h.r hnnnof Aao fp
get the best teachers and far above
average prices was paid, there was lack
OF interest and low average attendance.
Then the idea OF centrslizlng the schools
was brought forward, and was tried by
degrees, merging the ten schools into
ak; then into four, and each expert
ment seemed TO approach more nearly
the sought for end. Then the plan was
tried for year OF uniting the ten schools,
and halls aud rooms were rented. The
result more than met expectations. AZ
soon as the pupils were graded. and q
system Of promotion was insugursted,
the keen interest OF the pupils began to
manifest itself In q more eager attention
TO studies, with purpose to get into
the class above. Best OF all, that spirit
OF clsnnishness observed In the district
association gave way TO a true demo-
cratic spirit OF good fellowship and
comrsdeship, and the boy from the cor
ner Of the township was recognized as
the equal OF the merchants son.
A superintendent was hired who has
proved himself a practical teacher, the
two assistants and the tutor have proved
their worth, and each and all have the
confidence Of their pupils. A course OF
study has been marked out that on grad
ustion admits the diploma holder to
enter the freshman class Of either OF
three OF the leading Northern Ohio col
leges. The average attendance OF the
old district plan was about IS per cent,
while under the centralized plan II
reaches over 95, which is evidence that
the new plan draws"
The transportation Of pupils solved It.
self In q satisfactory way. Instead OF
providing wsgonettes for the pupils, the
parents are paid q graduated price, &C.
cording TO the distance from the scho0l-
house. for taking their own children to
school, and this Ia plan II is seen that
sends part of the public money back Into
the taxpayers hands. Pupils living
within one and q fourth miles of the
school are not allowed mileage. Beyond
that limit. the price runs up as high as
O. per mouth pupil. Parents can
send them by their own conveyance, or
few families can club together, and
"week about" bear each others burdens.
When at last II was concluded that the
centralized plan was the solution Of the
matter, a school house wss the next
problem, and when the Board called q
special election to vote on the question
OF going back to the old plan Of ten dis
tricts, or OF putting 81, 800 into additions
to the big school house, so as to ac-
commodste all In one building, 80 per
cent OF the vote of the township was
cast, and not one WAS for going back to
the ten district plan.
The last year that the ten schools
were conducted the cost was, In round
numbers, 81, 400; last year, by the new
plan, the cost was sa,700, including the
cost Of transportation, and q school that
the town Is proud OF Is to show for the
money. By an act OF the legislature the
old cumbersome Board OF thirty direct
ors is merged into q Board Of three,
elected at the annual spring election by
the entire town vote, and not by the
usual self-elected school board, aud as Q
member goes of the board each year,
we are now to have the policy Of con-
tinuing school board, and there can be
no upheavsls and unaccountable doings
by the board. The boys and girls are
given as good an education as those OF
the villages, and education and life on
the farm 90 hand In hand. We feel that
to large extent the question: "How to
keep the boys and girls on the farm"
will be and is being answered for this
rural tOwnship.-John Gould.