The Leon reporter., 1902-10-23
..rhe Rural School problem. /"


1.-THE Rural schq qol Problem.
A paper read before the Decatur County
Farmers Institute BY County Superintend-
ent j. A. Mcintosh.
Transportation of pupils and, centralisa-
tion of small rural schools is receiving II
vast amount OF discussion At the present
time by educators and those who feel that
such action would greatly improve our rural
schools. Whether it Will make the schools !
better and the expenses lighter than our
present system remains largely. theory yet
as few schools have tried transportation in
its larger meaning. The discussion OF this
subject shall attempt as we'll as some
other matters desire to present concerning
1 the rural schools consequently tho subject
Of this paper shall be ''The Rural School
Problem
! The opinion seems to prevail largely among
agreat many people at the present time that
oar rural schools are not doing as good work
as they have done or should do, but to this
desire to reply later in this paper. wish 10
| say, however, and aH pleased to say II,
] that the last year we have had sorne OF the
best rural schools and the most sucse ssful III
has sVer been my pleasure. and privilege to.
visit. 1t is q fact worthy Of note that some
OF these schools are being taught in districts
OF reasonably large attendance-someo OF only
small enrolment. Some OF our very best
rural schools, however, have only small
enrolment 80 we may reasonably conclude
that the number enrolled does not always
determine that this particular school shall
be successful from the large attendance alone.
a successful teacher will have successful
school with either q large or small enroll
n1ent. Oftener however, she will have
more successful school IN district of small
enrolment while she may be a failure In a
large school,.
First OF all things in dealing with this
proposition of transportation OF pupils to a
central school must we take into considera-
tion tho cost of changing from the present to
the new method.
We pay more money for our public schools
than all other public purposes combined and
any change from our present school system
must look to the cost thereof and keep that
Iconstantlys in mind. Hence ii! increased
school advantages will come from such q
change with slight increase in the cost or q
reduction in the, cost, then will the intelli-
gent tax, payer enthusiastically support any
such movement.
A great many new things in education
now "a days are merely public hds. We have,
therefore, to guard against being humbugged
in taking up these new things in educa-
ton. It is generally safe to walt then until
the new things have been tried and found
not wanting by other communities. 1t is
we'll to let good enough alone So long as IT
i measures up to the standard Of GOOD" yet
there are people who take refuge behind the
old adage and antaeonize anything that will
be departure from 1.-The good old way"
The cost TO the tax payer and the increased
| school advantages are the great problems
when we consider Capitalization OF schools.
From careful and thorough Investigation
regarding transportation and actual expert
ence in closing small rural schools I am en-
abled to report to you on the question Of
concentration ofrural districts. The expert
ments have been fairly successful in most
| instances and in applying results with con-
ditions in Decatur County we must make
reasonable and honest deductions. Before
Transportation in Its larger meaning can be
accomplished and successfully carried into
operation it becomes necessary to dlscon
tinue all schools regularly established in The
township, and construct q large central
building capable OF accommodating all the
pupils ofthe etownship-radical and unusual
change from anything ever experienced by
The Inhabitants of the community. II q
township has all good buildings, as many oi
our townships have, 1t would necessitate the
disposal OF perhaps twenty five to twenty
eight hundred dollars worth Of buildings and
grounds. Now If township has dilapidated
buildings in many OF the districts as few Of
our townships have, then it willfnot cost a
great deal more, to put up q large central
building than 1t will for the erection OF new
buildings.
In Eden. township at the present time
thersare several buildings that Will have to
be rebuiltin a'fsw years and thespeople in
this township could very carefully .in;yesti-
gate the subject Of transportation q, pupils
and Capitalization Of 1lstrictG. There are
many thtngs to be takentintos ouhs1 liberation
in inyestigating this subject, tpf transporta
ton and many things that will tend TO 8
SUCCESS or failure and the conditions favor.
able Ia one community are as varied as the
school townships and the districts are mum.
erous. 1t is q proposition entirely within
the hands Of the people OF a community
whether they shall attempt any new method
lin educational affairs therein. If a com
munity has progressive men az board o
directors Lueu tASy ueeo nave uO leAT tuA
such proposition will be met ana solved
properly.
Perhaps the most successful attempt 81
transportation and Capitalization aver tried
III this state is the school now in operation a,
Buffalo Center, winnebago county. Here
there is large central building built at q
coat ofsl7,0OO sufficiently large enough to ac-
,commoda.e The pupils OF Buffalo Center and
/ q {lu frOY % NJ dfstr