Hutchinson gazette., 1900-07-05
Union or Graded sohools.

Laws Of Ksnsas lS76-chapter l22-
article section /, has the following
provision for graded schools
"Wheneyer the inhabitants Of two
or more school districts may wish to
unite for the purpose of establishing a
graded school in which instruction
shall be given in higher branches Of
education, the clerk of the several dis
tricts shall, upon written application
of Eve voters OF the respective districts
call a meeting Of the voters Of such
districts at some convenient place, by
posting up written notices thereof in
in like manner as provided for calling
district meetings; and If majority of
the voters in each Of the two or more
districts shall vote to unite for the
purpose hereia stated, they shall, at
that meeting or at an adjourned
meeting, elect board of directors,
consisting Of u director, clerk and treas
urer."
The law goes on to state that said
board shall exercise such power and
preform such duties as board Of dis
trict directors, and the expense of such
school shall be In proportion to the
number attending for each district.
See Laws Of 1899 pages 3l-32. .
There is no question but what there
isR need for larger unit than our
present system provides. The district
unit has become In many cases made
quRte to the demands Of the day
The union or graded school system
approaching the township system some
what, is in my Judgment, the on y sol
ution Of the problem. There is no
better school than our union free
school or our village school as estab-
lished in our state. The result here
obtained cannot possibly be attained
by single rural district. These dis
trlcts in many cases have a small pop
ulatien and a still smaller enrolment
AS a result the school Is llfeless, can.
not be properly graded, there is little
enthusiasm among the pupils, and
that activity and earnestness which
comes from numbers is entirely want
ing. The attendance of the graded
schools has continually increased while
many Of our rural schools have de-
clined in attendance.
The graded school affords an oppor-
tunity for thorough work in special
branches, closer and better classih-
cation Of the school and insures better
teachers; it affords better companion
ship and culture that comes from asso-
citation and finally insures better at
tendance and mere apparatus
with better buildings. 1t also
quickens the public interest in
the schools, pride IN the quality of
work done, and breeds culture along
many other lines.
The experiment in consolidation at
Kingsville, Ohio has proved marked
success. Here it gives the country
pupil the same advantage as his village
cousin has. Each pupils progress has
been more rapid than when he was in
q school with many more classes.
More individual instruction can be
given thus giving detail and finish to
each pupil 3 work. ! note with pleas
ure that the attendance increased from
so to $50 per cent in some cases, and a
larger increase in all cases, thus great
ly increasing the returns from the
school fund invested. Besides it has
been the means Of saving the tax pay
ers many thousands Of dollars in three
years. This Capitalization is condu-
Give to economy in buying suppliea
More supplies are needed and these