Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-22

ties wherewith to intelligently com
bat any radical changes in our
present system. 1t was only after l
Ihad thoroughly investigated a large
number of schools situated in many
different townships and counties.
that | was willing to accept the re-
suits of my own work. \ combined
study of the question only served to
convince me that in searching for
tares l found good wheat.
There are yet in Ohio many places
where the old district school and the
centralized rural school may be
found side by side. Permit me to
testify that comparison is not at all
favorable to the old system. | am
forced to admit that the evidence of
practical work. the almost universal
testimony of the patrons of the
school, the palpa ble\ results as shown
by the pupils themselves, have con-
WINGED me that it is a practical solu-
ton of our rural school problem.
and great Improvement over the
present methods, equally as applica-
BILE To Michigan as to Ohio.
Now, if Capitalization is good
thing we want the privilege of APP
plying it wherever conditions and en-
lvironments viii permit; no system
will be equally efficient all over
Michigan. but we believe that cen
tralization is practical. and opens
greater advantages with less obiec-
tions than any other plan suggested
for the betterment of our rural
schools To put it into operation
needs no changes in our present
school laws except to permit the
use of a portion of the one-mill and
general tax to he used for the trans
portation of the children. Central
iaztion without transportation is not
practical.
THE plan of Capitalization offers
equal advantage to all children of the
township. 1t permits a better grad
ing of the schools and classification
of pupils. 1t affords an opportunity
for thorough work by adding more
weeks of schooling and the addition
of higher grades. Fewer but better
teachers will be employed and retain
ed. and il brings the stimulating in
fluences of larger classes with ac-
complaining generous rivalry.
1T renders necessary the discipline
and training incident to larger num-
bers, ii increases the average atten-
dance, it does away with hardness
and quickenS public interest in the
schools. 1t results in better school
buildings. better sanitary conditions,
better equipment, and all at Il less a2
gregate expense than under the small
district plan. To centralize in large
villages Is more or less objectionable.
The ideal of consolidation is rural
environment and Will he found to be
the most desirable, economical and
wise. We know the system of cen
traliZation means the abandonment
of many school houses. longer dis
tances to school. the transportation
of pupils and the necessity of better
roads. yet | believe ii will more than
pay the expense and trouble incident
to reorganization.
I'm Ohio and elsewhere the OPP
position to Capitalization has I'M
nearly every instance at the start
been very hctive and determined, but
the successful operation of the sys-
TEN has won approval and the plan
continues to spread where it has
once gained a foOthold. Great sue
cess is>usually only attained by over
coming mountains of difficulties, and
should the system ever be adopted in
Michigan. presume it would be pos
sible to find people who believe that
the present rural schools are good
enough. who would object to any in
novation. however worthy the meas
ure or however well received else
where, those who believe in short
school years, low wages for teachers,
and who fail to preceive that this is
progressive age, that new conditions
exist which can only be met by radl-
cal changes of past methods.
But successful agriculture in Mich
igan demands a higher efficiency in
our rural schools and that the OPP
portunity be given to every child