The suburban citizen., 1901-01-26
0HIO'S CENTRAL SCHOOLS
AN EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION IN
THE RURAL DISTRICTS.


DR.. II. IT. Longsdorf, Of Camp Hill,
Penn, by request Of the Commissioner
Of Schools and Agricultural Secretary
Of Pennsylvania has been investigOt-
ing the workings Of the rural central.
lied schools Of Ohio.
In the New England States, likewise
In a few Ohio districts, a town sys-
TEN, by which children living in coun-
try localities are transported to the
nearest village for educational pur-
poses, has long been employees; but
complete system by which the schools
Of a rural township, remote from a
town or city, are combined into one
graded central school, is used in but
two places Of the United States, Green,
Ohio, and Gustavus, Ohio.
Many townships throughout Ohio arc
opening their eyes to the fact THAI
Capitalization is a practicable method
for helping country pupils to better
educational advantages Last April
complete law to provide for the cen
tralization of township schools and
provide high school for the same was
passed by the Ohio Legislature. The
law defines Capitalization as a "sys-
TEN of schools in a township providing
Tor the ab0lishment Of all subdistricts
and the conveyance Of pupils to one
or more central schools" 1t requires
that the question Of Capitalization he
submitted TO a vote of the qualified
electors Of a township. If the "yeas"
are in majority, it then becomes the
duty of the Board of Education to
proceed at once to the Capitalization
of the township schools,
The Board of Education under cen
tral school management consists Of
five members elected at large in a
township. Il is required to support o
graded course Of instruction and furn-
ish transporta ton to and from school
to all pupils living more than three
quarters Of a mile from the central
building.
Greene and Gustavus have sold at
auction their "little red school houses"
OF sentiment and have supplanted
them by a handsome new building in
the heart Of each township.
Greene's $4,000 edifce of brick ven
eerng with stone trimmings is about
all that need be desired in the way of
a rural school building IL contains
seven rooms. besides an alcove, library.
cloak closets and spacious halls. It is
heated with steam and has many Of
the equipments Of a modern city
school.
Competent teachers have been hired
for the primary, intermediate gram
mar and high school grades, which
each occupy a room
Three years Of instruction are in
ciuded In the high school course. a
graduate therefrom will be admitted
to the average college.
A music teacher goes the rounds OF
the central building twice a week that
The rising generation Of Greene may
know how to sing.
In covered vans, having glass win
dows at front and back, 100 pupils Of
Greene township are carried to school.
A van driver announces by the shrlil |
blast of horn his arrival at home |
stead. Five minutes Is the limit of
time allotted TO tardy children at
each stopping place. Usually punctu-
al, the children Chamber up some steps
and pass through n door at the rear
Of the wagon to take their places Oh
the seats stretched along it's sides.
Almost on the moment OF $50 OF
school day morning eight vans rumble
UP the drive leading to the central
building. Having backed against q
platform the wagons unload their bur
dens Of noisy boys ana girls. From
here the children pass dry and clean |
into the sheltering haven Of their
school rooms.
Before the dismissal Of school al
night the wagons are waiting by the |
platform for their passengers.
The drivers are in the main am.
bilious farmers of Greene, anxious to |
fatten their slender pocketbooks. They !
provide their own vans and receive |
monthly salaries Of 500.
When farm work presses, the WOmer |
often lend hand in driving the vans.
The eight school routes Of Greene |
have been apportioned as fairly as |
possible. The wagons covering the |
four and five mile routes carrying the
fewest pupils.
In winter, when the air blows cold
and roads are rough, the children will
still be snug in their tedious journeys !
to and from school; for heavy carpets,
heaps Of blankets and hot bricks viii |
add to the furniture Of the kid" wag-
ons.
The van drivers have specified rules
Of moral conduct to obey. They also
hold authority over their passengers. |
and usually keep them fairly quiet and
well behaved.
'I'll not stir from this spot until you
are all quiet in your seats" a woman |
driver threatened one night. The sur.
prlsed children desisted from tleir |
fracas and the horses went on.
The crude method Of rural mail de. |
livery that has been established IN |