Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-04-17

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e. remAxkahle fact: We expended tor
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appears.that the taxpayers OF TIL. state
paid oslf An teachers wages. fuel. con-
sin.enSiss; text-books. and supplies for
tendance. This irregular attendance IL
found ln.the rural schools Of the state,
Over 1000 practically wasted, az
the wages OF all the teachers OF the
st2te. more than five times as much q:
+ Eouldscost to provide conveyancss and
schools 70 central graded school. This
will weigh carefully.
consolidation and transportation. 1t might
be well to say that the thing most to
be avoided ts the destruction Of rural life
ment which is toward centraliSing rural
schools In cities Ia to be deplored. and
should be avoided. IL possible. The press
the simplicity OF Its manner and dress:
the ruggedness Of its life: the peace. quiz
ct and contentment of its homes; its
vice; Its Opportunities for physical de-
velopment and it's making Of men and
women OF clear cOnsciences, are items
s o of vta
to the welfare of our nation. 1t must not
therefore, be REQUIRED that the problem
les but that the consoiidasi tom which is
distinctly rural H. expedient. economical
and wise: There is no good reason why
me rurai school districts under conso;-
idation. with school centrally located.
shoul6y not have as good facilities for
secondary education 10 Sthe most favored
cities Of the state.
The leading arguments in favor Of cone
OOlidatiOn are:
First. II permits 9 better grading and
classification. Of pupils. Consolidation all
work to better advantage: the various
subjects of study to be wisely selected
and correlated and more time given to
Second. It affords an opportunity for.
thorough work in special branches. such
as asos craving music d and elementary sci
ment in other lines.
weeks Of school, and to schools Of higher
Fourth. i insures the employ ment ana
small ungraded schools are usually OF
limited education. training and experts
Fifth. 1t makes the work of the capa-
bic, earnest county superintendent far
all be concentrated into something tangi-
BILE and speedily executed.
Sixth. It adds. the Stimulating influ-
ing enthusiasm and a generous rivalry.
The discipline and training are invalu-
able.
panionship that comes from association.
Eighth. 1t results in better attend
ance Of pupils, and a more wholesome
at hr the
mapts in the states where the plan has
been thoroughly tried.
Ninth. It leads to better school build
ter number of books. charts and apDara-
tus. All these naturally follow a con-
centratton Of people. wealth, and effort
Tenth. Improved sanitary conditions.
Children less exposed to stormy weather.
Eleventh. The poor, mans children as
well rs the rich mans children are af-
f fo,,aa nm, means ans, Of reaching the high
the Cherished f fnfisences u Of the thigh.
priced" teacher of the high school, and
Twelfth. Economy Is time and money.
| In every instance where schools are man
aged under the provision of this act.
work is accomplished. In many places
the experiment has been tried with
marked success.
From the Province Of Victoria, AUS
tralia, comes report that 1858 schools
were closed by this plan, and that after
d de the cost Of co3veyances, the
The Minister Of Education says that the
system Is marked success. and II there
fs one feature as to its workings that
stands out more prominently than an
a a n
attendance OF the children conveyed. That
one fact alone in my Judgment, would
In several of the New England states
which have tried the experiment, the
land In remote districts has risen in VAL
%e instead ca Of depreciatng, rs was pre-
Of the schools near their home farms.
Massachusetts,. in 1891, expended $4,000
for Conveying YIN goS ehiiTren That state now
state. go = '''e 49, = |.'s'
The argument that roads are often
spring, is q strong one for consolidation
rather than against It, The question
simply reduces itself to this fact. shall
through?
wagons should be covered and provided
for severe weather. The school board
should exercise rs much care in the se-
lection Of the driver as they do teachers
The contract for each route should be
given out to the lowest responsible bid
der He should be under bonds to per-
form his obligations. The driver should
| be required to have the children on the
school grounds promptly al the opening
of school, which does away with the
question Of tardiness and irregu!arity Of
attendance. Conveyances should call at
every farm house where there are school
children, the children thus stepping into
the wagons at the roadside. and are set
down upon the school grounds. In order
to reduce perhaps. the number of wag-
Ons, the. children may be required to
walk to the nearest main Travelled road
There is no trampfng through the snow
and mud, as is now the case during our
| winter and early spring. With the chill
dren under the control OF a responsible
driver, there Is no opportunity. for the
terrorizing Of the little ones by some
bully as they trudge homeward through
| the snow and mud from the district
schools The expenditure for these better
appointments will be wise economy, tor
the cost per pupil is scarcely much less
schools. Such plan quickens public in
terest in the schools. Pride in the quail
ity of work to be done secures greater
sympathy and better fellowship through
out the districts. Consolidation of rural
district schools will be the morning dawn
Of better roads, rural delivery and the
common use Of telephones in the homes
on the farm.