The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-30
TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
SUPT. OLSEN WILL DISCUSS CON-
SOLIDATION AT GRAND
MEADOW
THE LAW ORIGINATED THERE
Idea Is Catching On-some Objec-
tions Summed Up to Set Against
the Advantages of
the Law.

state Supt. Olsen leaves today for
Grand Meadow, where he will address q
large meeting on the subject of consoli-
datlon of schools. Grand Meadow was
the first place in the state to start the
consolidation idea and citizens of that
town first discussed the question of
taking the matter before the legislature
which was later DONE
Supt. Olsen says the consolidation idea
is catching on rapidly in Minnesota, and
he expects to get results in. time for his
biennial report to the regular session of
the legislature. The leading arguments
in favor of Capitalization of schools and
transportation of pupils, as enumerated
by Supt. Olsen, were given some time ago
In e e. One of the educators
IN the state who is interested in the prob
lem, and who largely agrees with Supt.
Olsen's claims, thinks threre are also
some disadvantages to be considered If
the problem is to be intelligently faced
and solved, and he sums them up thus
There is great deal Of talk among
teachers and school boards lately in ref
erence to the consolidation of rural
SchooIs: 1ms is a question that will
certainly bear considerable discussion
and although there may be a good MANY
advantages to arise from the central
nigh scnool project, it must be remem-
pered that there are also a number Of
disadvantages. OF course we can see
that with the centralized school system
all pupils will have more advantages of
higher education than under the pres
ent plan. Fewer teachers would be re.
CURED and better pay would fail to the
lot OF those teachers who should be sue
cessful enough to secure positions under
the new rule. But let us take a look at
TIE other side Of the case a little before
these rural districts vote away their
present school privileges.
Inc new plan proposed is to hire
teams to bring in the children for their
SchooI duties during the day and take
tEem nome at the close of the daV One
method discussed is to have a team start
from each of the farthest corners, gath
erlng up the pupils as he finds them
along the road, and depositing them at
the school house door at o'clock Then
&C through the performance in reverse
order after school closes at night. 1t
viii readily be seen by the residents of
the country districts that many of their
pupils must walk considerable distance
before they reach the road Travelled by
the team, and then ride for a number of
miles before reaching school.
Another plan is for the team to start
from near the school house and drive out
one road to the edge of the township
and back another, having teams enough
to cover the township each morning and
take the children home again at night.
Even III LH!S way many OF the pupils
will have to walk as far to the road as
they have to walk under the present
plan, and yet have to ride from one to
ten miles. They might be able to stand
that all right and then again they
might not, for no one knows what a
t1resome thing it is to have to ride a
considerable distance every day, in ali
kinds of weather better than one who
mas had to DO it for a number of months
N the year. Thus, some are on the road
from one to four or five hours every
day besides the time they must spend n
school,
THAT would necessitate- their leaving
nome some of these cold winter mornings
long before daylight. 1 have been study
ing up little on this matter lately, and
have lost considerable faith in the
project. I have walked my share Of
miles in attending country school,
have taught in country schools, have
tasted the advantages of a higher educa-
ton; therefore / am not prejudiced either
Tor or against the plan Of rural consoIi-
datiOn of schools and the central high
school idea, but l have a very well de-
lined idea of what it means to traverse
a country road in all classes of weather.
hence L say that it will take a consider
able degree of discussion and argument
TO set the entire matter clearly under
STOOD by all voters and patrons of the
country schools before a change is made
from the present system to the console
dated plan.'