The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-02

An EXPERIMENT M EDUCATION IN
THE RURAL DISTRICTS.

UUNINM.EN ANNNN"AAA"
DR.. II. II. Longsdorf Of Camp Hin
Penn. by request Of the Commissioner
Of Schools and Agricultural Secretary
or Pennsylvania. has been investigat-
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 10 the
nearest village for educational pur-
poses has long been employed; but q
complete system by which the schools
OF 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 are
opening their eyes to the fact that
Capitalization is a practicable method
for helping country pupils 70 better
educational advantages. Last April a
complete law 10 provide for the cen
trallzation Of township schools and
provide high school for the same was
passed by the Ohio Legislature. Tho
law defines Capitalization as a "sys-
TEN Of schools ia a township providing
for the abollshment Of all subdlstricts
and the conveyance Of pupils to one
or more central schools" II requires
that the question Of Capitalization be
eubmltted 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 CT Education under cen
tral school management consists Or
five members elected az large IN .
township. Il Is required to support q
graded course OF instruction and furn-
ish transportation TO and from school
10 all pupils living more than three.
quarters Of a mile from the central
building.
Greene aud Gustayus have sold NJ
auction their "little red school house"
Of sentiment and have supplanted
them by a handsome new building In
the heart Of each township.
Greene's 5000 edifce of brick ven
eerlng with stone trimmings Is about
all that need be desired In the way Of
rural school building IT contains
seven rooms. besides an alcove library
cloak closets and spacious halls. Il Is
} heated with steam and has many Of
the equipments Of a modern city
: school.
Competent teachers have been hired
Tor 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 fherefrom win be admitted
TO the average college.
A music teacher goes the rounds Of
the central building twice a week thai
\ the rising generation OF Greene may
J. know how % sing.
In covered vans. having glass win
dows at front and back. 100 pupils o.
= Greene township are carried 10 school
A van driver announces by the shril
blast OF a horn his arrival AZ home
: stead. Five minutes Is the limit o
time allotted 10 tardy children ai
each stopping place. Usually punctu
al. the children Chamber up some step
and pass through a door at the rea
OF the wagon to take their places ol
the seats stretched along its sides.
I. Almost on the moment Of $50 Of
= school day mornine eight vans rumbl
{. up the drive leading to the centra
y building. Having backed against
= platform the wagons unload their bur
y dens OF noisy boys and girls. Fror
Z here the children pass dry and clen
\ into the sheltering haven OF the'
school rooms.
" Before the dismissal Of school q
- night the wagons are waiting by III
= platform Tor their passengers
= The drivers are IN the main an
bilious farmers Of Greene anxious I
n fatten their slender pocketbooks. The
provide their own vans and recely
monthly salaries Of SIC.
When farm work presses. the wome
,s often lend n hand IN driving the van
y The eight school routes Of Green
= have been apportioned as fairly q
Y possible. The wagons covering n
four and i've mile routes carrying 4
fewest pupils.
In winter. when the air blows col
and roads arc rough. the children WI
~ stln be snug in their tedious journes
"a TO and from school; Tor heavy carpet
heaps Of blankets and hot bricks vi
add 10 the furniture Of the skid" wa
ons.
n The van drivers have specified rull
Of moral conduct to obey They all
hold authority over their passenger
= and usually keep them fairly quiet al
wen behaved
NJ "In not stir FROM this spot until v
~ are All quiet ii your seats. a wom;
us driver threatened one night The 50
prised children desisted from the