Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-29
School Consolidation; or, Better
Public Schools.
Continued from last ISSUE J
BY ELSIE +. PERRY.

Center, Winnebago county. The town
ship is the unit. Buffalo Center is a
town of about 800 inhabitants Five
years ago, II large modern Building was
erected at cost of $1,000. Both town
and country shared the expense. This
has caused some jealousy, SO Co. Supt.
huudsen says. Also, because the build.
ing is not yet paid for, people cannot
quite see that ii is really cheaper. Some
objection is made by those living at the
greater distances from the town that
they have to get up too early to get their
children ready for the hacks. that they
get home too late to help about the
chores, and that the rides are too long
and cold He says on the whole, the
plan is satisfactory; and he thinks in
time it will be wholly So as the school is
certainly better, the expense less, and the
cost of erecting several school houses
has been saved. We will read from a
circular of information relating to trans.
poration recently issued by State Super.
intendent Barrett. He says:
Great care was taken IN regard to
sanitation. The very latest and best met
hods of heating, lighting and ventila.
ton are used. The building contains a
water supply throughout, with closets in
the basement, and room for the children
to play in during the stormy weather.
There are nine rooms, exclusive of an
auditorium and library filed with the
choisest books. 1t is doubtful il there
is more substantial or convenient
building in Iowa
HACKS AND DRIVERS.
"Six buses at present carry pupils in
from the country; their capacity ranges
from ten to twelve pupils and the dis.
lance from two to seven miles by wagon
road. Each driver averages S25 a month.
And he is under strict orders not to use
profane language or indulge in the use
covered wagon and sufficient robes for
the comfort of the children. At present
about seventy five children are trans.
ported. I hear of no complaints from
patrons relative to transportation.
COST is LESS.
"The average cost of tuition is about
$l.S5. This includes cost of teachers,
'buss drivers, ianitors and fuel, while
ulder the old plan the cost per pupil
has been at 10 time less than $194.'
1t may be of interest in passing to
note that Victoria, Australia has closed
24l schools during the past year saving
$4,000, SO their report says. The pupils
are transported long distances there,
1t Is said that Abraham Lincoln when
trying to decide any question of lmpor.
lance used TO place on one side all the
arguments he could think of which were
opposed, and on the other hand all in
favor OF the question, and then see
which side had the most. Suppose we
try this as follows:
| OBJECTIONS.
l. Local jealousy between town and
country.
3. Objection to change.
3. Difficulty is securing proper con-
veyances and drivers at reasonable
rates.
4. Children not having sufficient or
suitable clothing for going so far.
5, Danger to health and morals.
Dislike to send young children so far
from home.
8. Depreciation of property.
Z. Older children gone too early and
home too late to do necessary work, etc.
Too early morning hours to meet hack.
ADVANTAGES.
l. Enrolment increased. Attendance
from SO to $50 per cent greater, more
regular, aud of longer continuance. No
| hardness.
2. Fewer teachers are required and
so better teachers may be secured, bet
ter wages paid, and hence better schools
result.
3. No wet feet OR clothing; hence, lees
sickness.
| 4. Pupils better classified and graded
hence, more time given to Rotations.
5. Better supervision.
6. Better school houses where light.
ing, heating, and ventilation, and apli-
ances OF ali kinds are up to date.
I, Time for special work in drawing,
music, etc.
8. Cost in nearly all cases reduced
This includes cost and maintenance of
buildings, besides furniture, apparatus.
tuition, etc.
8. School year is often much longer.
~
10. Pupils have the advantage which
large classes bring in regard to interest,
enthusiasm, and confidence.
IL. The,whole community is drawn to.
gether. Public conveyances used for
children in the day time may be used to
transport their parents to public gather.
ings held in the school house in the
evenings, to lecture courses, etc.
II. Better roads.
ID. Transportation makes possible
the distribution of mail throughout the
whole township daily.
IA. Quickens public interest in the
schools.
10. Finally, by transportation the
farm again as of old becomes the ideal
place in which to bring up children, en-
abling them to secure the advantages of
centers OF population and spend their
evenings and holiday time in the coun.
try in contact with nature and plenty of
work, instead OF idly loafiug about town.
Perhaps 1t may be wise for us to study
local conditions for few moments. In
the towns of Howard county, the average