The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-07-25
State Superintendent Advocates Cor
solidation of School Districts
AS A PANAcEA FOR ALL ILLS
Rural School Pupils Lack Associa
citation Found in City Schools, as
Well as Other Things-The Plans
For the Change Formulated.


and mailed to school trustees and cit
liens of the state an open letter, 10
which he advocates the consolidation
of the smaller districts of the state
with view of their betterment. He
sees in consolidation panacea for
existing evils. He believes that trans
portation should be furnished the
pupils.
THE rural schools should and must
receive far greater attention in the
future than in the past, since It
should be recognized that the founda-
ton must be better laid if higher edu-
cation is to accomplish its best and
noblest aims. The rural school is the
pedestal to the statue, the root to
the tree, the foundation to the build
ing.
I'VE have inherited from the old
world and the old times the idea that
the farmer is the man with the hoe
This may be true of some particular
sections of Europe, but it is not and
should never be true of the American
farmer. Our custom, however, has
allowed farming to be regarded as
irksome toll. Our eyes have not
been taught to see fully the beauties
of the field, garden and forest; our
ears not attuned to the melodies Of
animated natures; our lives not
trained to appreciate nature in its
Efullness We have not fully learned
the advantages of the farm home as
a place to live as a family, and we
have been only too eager to overesti-
mate the real advantages of city life,
and to put false value on the gilt
tering mirage of the possibilities of
the city. We should have rural
schools conducted more with refer
ence to the vocational needs Of the
children who are to work out their
: mission in agricultural pursuits z;
schools in which should be taught
the elements of the sciences, upon
which successful results in agricul-
ture will depend; schools in which
farm life should be made more at
tractive for boys and girls.
THE great evil of the rural school
at present lies in it's non-social char.
acter. 1t is wholly unable to furnish
each of its pupils that educational
influence that comes from associa-
ton with many of the same age and
same degree of advancement; it can
not have, in many classes, enough of
honest and healthy competition to es-
tablish a standard to which many a
bright boy would raise himself and
hence fails to bring from him that
supreme effort which develops and
ennobles, and which can come only
from vigorous contest with his fell
lows.
"The humdrum and monotony from
a recitation in a one-pupil class Is
discouraging to both pupil and
teacher. Not only is the mental work
of the pupil retarded, but lack oi
enough pupils to organize a game On
the school grounds prevents AIDE
quate exercise, and tends to make
morbid, selfish and pessimistic all
who live in it's atmosphere. The
daily quiet and inactivity of the small
school kills the spirit. No school
can claim good conditions for work
if it contains less than 25 pupils; yet
three-fourths of the rural districts 0i
Montana are in operation with an at
tendance of from three to fifteen
pupils.
THE leading arguments in favor oi
consolidation are:
''First-It permits a better grading
and classification of pupils. Console
dation allows pupils to be placed
where they can be worked to better
advantage; the various subjects oi
study to be wisely selected and cor
related and more time given to reci
tation.
Second-It affords an opportunity
for thorough work in special
branches, such as drawing, music
and elementary science study. 1t al
lows also an inducement in other
lines.
"Third-It opens the doors to more
weeks of school, and to schools Di
higher grade.
'FOurth-It insures the employ
ment and retention of better teach
ers. Teachers in small, ungradeG
schools are usually of limited educa
ton, training and experience.
"Fifth-It makes the work of the
capable, earnest county superintend
ent more effectual Her plans ant
efforts can all be concentrated into
something tangible and speedily exc
cuted
'Sixth-It adds the stimulating in
fuences of large classes, with the re
sulting enthusiasm and generous riv
airy. The discipline and training are
invaluable.
"seventh-It affords the broader
companionship that comes from asao
citation.
'highth-It results in better attend
ance of pupils and more wholesome