The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-04-12
Educational.
oooooOOOO 900 OOooooooOoooo
School Consolidation.

Some of our bucolic papers are conjur-
ling up imaginery defects in the general
plan Of consolidation Of rural schools.
Some Of the obstructionists are assu,n-
ing that the friends of rural consolidation
expect to take the township as the unit
in all cases and then from this false as
sumption, they 60 on to construct to their
satisfaction logical? series showing how
chimerical the proposed consolidation is.
Some of the opponents assume gratui-
tously. that all existing school houses are
to be discarded, and all the children
within given geographical area brought
to some arbitrary center, despite the
wishes of their natural and lawful guard
ians.
Such view of the plans of the promo
tiers Of consolidation, shows only the cap
tious, querllous spirit of fossil obstruc-
ZIONIST, and not even the honest views of
a candid opponent of reform.
Then some of the opponents of this
movement lapse into poetic
strain, and they fear the children may not
see the"radiant glories of the June morn
ings" because enclosed in ajostling vehi-
Gle, and they will be SO jostled as not to
be capable of their best efforts when
they finally arrive at school. Such a
view Of the school consolidation ques-
ton is indicative of one of two things
total and absolute ignorance of the
whole matter or else prominent devel-
opment Of the serio-comic (burlesque.)
The friends OF rural consolidation do
not expect to revolutionize in day the
existing system. Ittakes time to over
throw any existing system, however OBJ
noxious.
All reforms come slowly, and this is
Especially true of all educational reforms.
All we hope for, is to get some one or
two centers established in the more wide
awake and progressive districts to serve
as local object lessons. 1t would be use.
less for me to repeat the many cogent ar
guments in favor of consolidation. Not
to know there, arguments and not to
know that this whole question is quar-.
tier of century old, and not to know
that it has teen worked out in some
parts OF our country successfully, is to ac-
knowledge apre-eminent degree of UNI
fitness for any public discussion, even in
an obscure local paper.
AS a matter of fact, in Pembina coun-
|ty, one Of our most progressive town
ships informs me that it will soon be
ready for township high school, and
some consequent form of consolidation.
We now have in Pembina county Sc
rural schools with an enrolment of 10 or
less, and only IL rural schools in the en-
tire county having an enrolment of 20 or
more. II some OF the opponents Of con-
solidation will suggest how a Successful
school can be maintained and taught
with 4, Cor 8 pupils, we would be happy
to learn Of this new system of pedogegy.
Socrates himself could not conduct a
successful and profitable modern school
with any one Of the Sc schools. The
lcost per pupil per month for this county
varies from So cents to 81 .65. a
And we find tue lower figure where
the time is the longest, the wages the
lhighesta and the instruction the best. II
Twill not cost mucn to transport the pu-
lpils Of several Of these weak districts TO
lsome suitable point where there may be,
lat least. the semblance Of q school mum.
feicaliy.
might add further fol: the comfort Of
1.-THE faint hearted. that one district ID the
southern part Of Pembina county IS now
contemplating the moving Of two school
houses 70 . central point. transport the
cMldren there, and thus secure The bene-
fits 81 4 partially graded school, and they
lhave figured out that thsyswili be the
gainers thereby. both financially and
otherwise. In reading the views 81 our;
anonymous opponents, I realize more
Than ever the truth oi what Emerson said
when he wrote:
Conservatism makes fur ease aud com-
fort but
|Re.osm ior ruth = 81
3lAL1xANDER. VI
snb,r:,, y. Is, April q 1901.