Fergus County argus., 1902-07-23
is IT PRACTICABLE

is IT PRACTICABLE?
A recent Helena paper says that con-
solidation of the rural schools. a plan
adopted successfully In some of the
older states in recent years, will come
up for consideration at the hands of
the next legislature. The plan, says
that paper. is to consolidate two.
three or four schools of a township.
into one school at central point, the
question of the children reaching the
school being solved by the employ
ment of teams for transportation. Ex-
perienced educators who have had to
do with the comparatively new plan
declare that II is far ahead Of the old
scheme Of a school for every district.
no matter how small the number of
children in the district in which the
school must be maintained.
State Superintendent OF Public In
struction. w. w. Welch. is said to
favor this SCENE and is now engaged
in the preparation Of a circular let
ter that Is to be the first move in the
campaign" for consolidation. In this
letter facts will be given to show the
working of the plan in those states
that have adopted it, and to point the
contrast between the two systems.
These letters will be sent to county
superintendents, to members of the
Legislature. to principals OF the city
schools and to members of the boards
of trustees in the various districts.
Explaining its operation in other
states Mr.. Welch says: There is a
school at some central point in a
township, as against two or more un.
der the old plan. The trustees let
contracts for the transportation of
the pupils to and from the school
Generally the persons who take the
contracts are lads who attend the
school. In Massachusetts. when the
consolidation system was adopted. the
expenditure for transportation in the
rural districts was $4,000 for the first
year. The system has been in opera
ton for five years, and It has grown
until the expenditure for transporta
tion has increased to $1S,0OO.0o0 pei
year. II has been shown that the
system results In a great saving finan
cially, and the educators say that the
grade of work accom- plished in the
schools Is materially better than be
fore the plan was put into operation.
Mr.. Welch says this plan should
be adopted at once before more schoo
houses are built. He thinks 1t would
keep down neighborhood dissensions
and improve the standard Of work iT
the schools.
This may be true but there are
those who will doubt the practicability
of this plan in Montana. In some in
stances the townships in Montana are
larger than the counties in many ol
the eastern states and the scholar:
are widely scattered. So much 80 thai
under this plan. in some cases, eacl
scholar would be a contractor for his
own special benefit. In severe wealth
er and during the short days of win
ter it would require a number of con
tractors to take children to and from
school. AS the districts would have
to bear the expense II might cost more
than II would to build school house!
and employ teachers. However. 1t l!
a matter that should be given careful
consideration from every view point
God schools are very desirable ant
there Is no doubt but that this plar
would increase their efficiency 1
practicable. The great difficulties arr
those OF cost time and distance. WI
would be glad to get the Views of SOM
of those directly interested in thi'
problem of giving their children tn,
advantage of a good school. To sucl
cur columns will be open at any time
Is Mr.. Welch's scheme practicable
in Fergus county?