The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-01-24
0HIO'S CENTRAL SCHOOLS
AN EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION IN
THE RURAL DISTRICTS.
How Children In Two Townships Are
Transported 20 and From school -
Better Attendance and HIGHER Per-
ceutages Among the Benefits Secured.

VI ScnOOlS ana Agricultural Secretary
of Pennsylvania, has been iuvestlgat.
ing the workings Of the rural central.
lied schools of Ohio
In the New England States. likewise
in few Ohio districts, town sys.
ten, by which children living in coun-
try localities are transported TO the
nearest village for educational pur-
poses, has long been employed: but a
complete system by which the schools
of rural township. remote from n
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 that
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 "sys-
tenn OF schools in n township providing
Tor the abolishment of all subdis;ricts
and the conveyance of pupils to one
or more central schools" 1t requires
that the question OF Capitalization be
submitted TO vote of the qualified
electors of township. If the "yeas"
are In majority, II then becomes TIE
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
tve members elected at large In
township. Il is required to support o
graded course of instruction and furn-
ish transportation to and from school
to all pupils living more than three.
quarters of mile from the central
building.
Greene aud Gustavus have sold ut
auction their little red school houses"
OF sentiment and have suppanted
them by handsome new building in
the heart of each township.
Greene's $4,000 edifice of brick ven
eering with stone trimmings il about
all that need be desired in the way of
rural school building. II contains
seven rooms, besides an alcove, library
cloak closets and spacious halls. II Is
heated with steam and has many OF
the equipments of 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.
cluded in the high school course. A
graduate thercfrom 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 shrlll
blast of horn his arrival at home
stead. Five minutes is the limit of
time allotted to tardy children TT
each stopping place. Usually punchl-
al, the children Chamber up some steps
and pass through door at the rear
of the wagon to take their places on
the seats stretched along its sides.
Almost on the moment or $50 OF n
school day mornlnS eight vans rumble
up the drive leading to the central
building. Having backed against
platform the wagons unload their bur-
dens of noisy boys and girls. From
here the children pass dry and clean
into. the shelterlng haven of their
school rooms.
Before the dismissal OF school at
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 S26.
When farm work presses, the women
often lend Il 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
Cewest pupils.
In winter, when the air blows cold |
ana roads are rough, the children will |
still he snug in their tedious journeys |
to and from school; for heavy carpets, |
heaps of blankets and hot bricks will |
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" woman
driver threatened one night. The sur.
prlsed children deslsted from their |
fracas and the horses went on.
The crude method OF rural mail de-
livery that has been established In |
Greene and Gustavus by means of the
central school routes is proving salts.
factory. For small compensation |
each van driver gets the mail from the
postoftice at night for the families
along his route and delivers 1t.
An approximate estimation of cur
rent expenses in Greene. makes the
cost OF maintaining her central school
$4,000 annually, $7O0 more than The
yearly expenditures under the sub.