Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-17
FOR CENTRAL SCHOOLS
State Superintendent Barrett's
Biennial Report Strongly
Favors the Plan
Statistical Reports from County
Superintendent Show Its
Feasibility and Necessity
Consolidation Tried in % Counts
les =. Bad Roads Are the
Drawback.
snecial to Times-Republican.


Clarion, Feb. 17.-Richard G. Barrett,
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton, devotes the second chapter OF his
biennial report to the consolidation OF
rural school districts and the transpor-
tation of children to centrally located
schools. From the report 1t would APP
pear that Mr.. Barrett, with the best
thought of the profession over which
he is superintendent, is highly favora-
Bile to the proposed consolidation and
sees in its accomplishment the solution
of the rural school problem. Statistics
given in Superintendent Barrett's re-
port disclose a crying need for a new
and improved system by which rural
schools may be strengthened and am
plified. 1t shows that half the rural
schools in Iowa have an average daily
attendance of less than twenty. Sta
tistics collected two years ago show
that seventy independent and 263 sub
districts have an attendance of less
than five; 502 independent and 2,705
sub districts have an attendance of
less than ten; 1928 independent and 81
100 sub districts have an attendance of
less than fifteen; and 1850 independent
and 1879 sub districts have an attend
ance Of less than twenty.
The low grade of the service is shown
in the facts that of 21.O34 teachers II
censed, more than one third held third
grade certificates, 1860 had no expert
ence whatever in the work of teaching
and 4,20S had taught less than one year
OF the 1925 third-grade certificates is
sued 6,167 We're issued to females, most
of them young girls fresh from their
own lessons and without real expert
ence of any nature, and many of these
had not finished even the common
school course. When 1t is realized that
rd-grade certificates are issued en-
tirely as makeshift and only when the
county superintendent is forced to is
sue such certificates or allow a percent
age of schools to remain without a
teacher 1T Will be admitted that holders
of these certificates are not properly
qualified to teach. The number of sec
ond-grade certificates issued was 49,
S2S and of these 11.703 were issued to
females. The total number of first
class certificates was 2.917 or somewhat
over ID per cent. State certificates ana
diplomas We're 1,2S5.
The salaries of Iowa teachers In 1900
are given in this report. Males re-
ceived stipend of 5000 and females
sS024 In 1897 male teachers averaged
$50 monthly and females $50. This for
the SIX to nine months during which
they are employed and exclusive of
board This Is below the average wages
of a farm hand or domestic. To expect
from third-grade makeshift teachers
the results attained by the trained, Sc
lected and fairly paid forces of the city
schools will prove a futile hope.
The salaries are 80 low that young
men and women are discouraged from
preparing themselves to teach because
they can do better in other occupations.
AT least, If a young man or woman pre-
pares for the teaching profession. It Is
with the view of securing a position in
good graded school. and having
gained the professional training. such
positions are easily obtained. The COM
mon schools get little or no benefit at
present from normal schools except
during the experimental stage of the
teachers career. while she is ACQUIRING
the experience which will qualify her
for position in the graded schools.
The advantages claimed by Superin-
tendent Barrett and the concensus of
county superintendent over the state
are:
Better teachers.
Reduction in per capita cost of edu-
cation.
Better classification of pupils.
Larger classes, more competition, in
terest and enthusiasm among pupils.
More thorough supervision by princi-
PALS of central school and county su-
perintendent.
Larger attendance and greater pune
tuality.
Better buildings. more apparatus and
libraries without addition expense.
Longer and more regular terms, the
arrangement of a curriculum suited to
the needs of advanced and older pupils.
and the study of special branches.
In short, and to sum up, the opinion of
the county superintendent is almost
to the effect that the con-
solidation of small schools and the
transportation of the pupils to a CEN
trail school at the expense of the dis
trict would result In better schools at
less or no greater expense. Reports
from county superintendent are prac-
tically unanimous in favor of consol-
idation. Reports from counties where
the transportation of pupils for longer
or shorter distances is being tried show
the plan is favorably impressing the
residents where the trials are in pro-
gress in Blackhawk county Lincoln
township has voted consolidate all of
the schools of the township COY, and
voted $4,000 to build a central school
house. This was decided upon after a
committee had visited other localities
where the system had been tried and
made thorough investigation of its
merits and its practical working. The
committee was composed of one man
who was opposed to the experiment.
one who was in favor of 1t and the
county superintendent. The man who
was opposed was completely convinced
by what he saw. In Hardin five of the
six schools closed were transported to
graded schools and the results were so
that the one-room country
school houses in these districts have
been permanently abandoned and per-
manent arrangements for tuition on the
graded schools and transportat alton