Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-01-31

They pay the same whether the children
are carried or not. Under these conditions
| the children become quite robust and able
to walk.
New York has law, and last year an
nulled eighty-two districts. Two hundred
contracts have been filed during the pres
emit year, and State Superintendent skinner
thinks three hundred will be reached before
the year is over. Pupils conveyed are not
enumerated separately, 50 there are no
statistics showing the number of pupils
conveyed Contracts were first made in
1885, Twenty-seyen in all. The increase
to over two hundred this year shows the
system to be very popular wherever tried.
! Transportation is also practised in Greater
| New York.
Florida reports two counties instituting
the plan of transporting the children.
From one Of these, Citrus, learn that they
are transporting three small schools four
to six miles, twenty pupils at 81 so per
pupil per month Duyal county, Florida,
is transporting 17S pupils at 5000 per
month, having closed fourteen schools
They began with two schools two years ago,
and the plan has been very popular. Extra
teachers hired cost S448 for what had before
cost $3.50 per month, thus saving $42 per
month. Schools Of three teachers and
! eight year grades were formed. They are
| planning now to reduce forty-fve schools to
fifteen. The superintendent says: "We
furnish wagonettes carrying eight, twelve
and sixteen passengers, 50 there is no DIFF
ficulty to getting farmers to furnish teams
and harnesses. This is an improvement
over other ways.
One of the most noted examples is found
in Kingsyille, Ohio, report Of which was
published in the Arean for July, 1893. The
| Kingsville experiment was made possible
by a special act of the Legislature for the
benefit Of this one town. This bill en-
acted that any township which, by the
census OF 1900, had population not less
than ], 40, nor more than /, us, might APP
propriate funds for the conveyance of pupils
in sub districts. The law was based speci-
| tically upon the rate Of population of Kings
vile, and was so worded to gain the sup
port from other sections of the State, who
were attached to the old plan, but who
would not object to the object lesson. The
residents Of Kingsyille have realized their
| fondest hopes.
The average attendance has much in
creased and better schools have been pro-
vided. Fifty pupils have been conveyed
and the annual cost of tuition has been re-
dueed from $22. rs to S12.25 per pupil. The
plan enabled the Kingsville school to open
another room and supply another teacher
to the central school, thus reducing the
number of grades in room. The daily
attendance has increased from fifty to ninety
per cent, thus increasing the return from
the school fund invested. Over 81, 900 was
saved in Kingsville in three years.
The law has since been made general in
Ohio and is everywhere proving satisfac-
tory. Other townships in Ohio have fol-
lowed the lead Of Kingsvillc. One county,
Madison, reports a decrease Of tuition from
SIG per year to S10.48 on basis of total
enrolment, and from S26.06 to S16.07 on
the basis of the average attendance. But
the item OF cost is not the most important.
The larger attendance more regular at
tendance, better schoolhouses, better teach
ers and the greater interest and enthu-
siasm that numbers bring are most i'm
portant.
In another Ohio place circles are drawn
around the schoolhouse one mile and two
miles distant. Pupils inside the first circle
receive no public aid. Pupils between the
two circles receive SLIGO per month, and
pupils outside the two-mile circle receive
$500 per month and furnish their own
transportion.
The school law Of Iowa authorizes the
contracting with other townships or indie
pendent districts for the instruction Of
Schildren who are at an unreasonable dis
tance from their o1ss.. school and where
LSseIe will be d saving Of expense, or in
creased advantage to the children, the
board may arrange for transportation Of any
child and from any school.
/ In Winnebago county the plan is con
Quoted on the largest scale Of any Iowa
place Number of children conveyed, 40
distance, two and one-half miles; number
Of teams used, four: cost Of team and
driver, S25 per month; number Of schools
closed, four; six next year. Plan has been
| in operation three years. Estimate savings
| $4S6 per year; two-thir(ls cent mile
! Forest City transports fifteen pupils al
1 S1.50 per month, an average distance o.
four miles; cost, three-tenths Of cent PEI
mile.
Baldwin, Pa, transports twelve pupils
| and one-half miles at an estimated saving
Of 81 per month. Pupils meet at the ole
sehoolhouse and are left at the old school
| house at night. If pupil is not on time
he is left. Only one has been left and he
has not missed twice. Result is-pupils
are never tardy and attendance is very
regular. There is plenty Of room for pupils
in town, so there is no extra expense ex-
cept transportation. As far as the State
Superintendent knows, citizens teachers
and pupils are pleased.
Kansas passed a law providing that where
pupils reside three or more miles from the
schoolhouse, district boards shall pay to the
parent or guardian Of such children sun
not to exceed fifteen cents per day for {
period Of net more than one hundred days
for Conveying such pupils to and from
school.
In a report of committee Of the Nationa
Educational Association, held in 1897 the
leading arguments in favor Of transportation
were:-
1. It permits better grading of schools
and classification Of pupils. Consolidation
allows pupils to be placed where they car
work to the best advantage; the various
subjects Of study to be wisely selected and
correlated and more time to be given te
recitation.
2. 1t affords an opportunity for thorough
work In special branches, such as drawing
music and nature study. 1t also allows
enrichment in other lines.
3 It opens the door to more weeks o.
schooling and to schools Of q higher grade
The people in villages almost invariably
lengthen the school year and support higF
school for advanced purposes.
4. 1t insures the employment and reten-
ton Of better teachers. Teachers in small
| ungraded schools are usually of limited
education, training, or experience, or are
past the age of competitions The salaries
paid in cities and villages allow wide
range in the selection Of teachers
5. 1t makes the work of the specialist
and supervisor far more effective. Then
plans and efforts can all be concentrated
into something tangible
Z. 1t adds the stimulating influences Of
large classes, with the resulting enthusi
assn and generous rivalry. The discipline
and training obtained are invaluable.
Z. 1t affords the broader companionship
and culture that comes from association
s. 1t results in better attendance d
pupils, as proved by experience in towns
where the plans have been thoroughly tried
81 1t leads to better buildings, better
equipment, larger supply Of books, charts,
maps and apparatus. All these naturally
follow concentration of people, wealth
and effort, and aid in making good schools
The large expenditure implied in these
better appointments is wise economy, fol
/ the cost per pupil is really much less thar