The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-10
Supt. Nelson Discusses His
Hobby Before Farmers.
Give Reasons For Consolidation
of Rural Schools.
PHONES IN SCHOOLS.
Thinks Teachers and Parents
Will Reap Advantages.
Mrs. Johnston Also Reads Paper
at " Educational Evening""

AT the Thursday evening session OF
the state board of agriculture. Frank
Nelson, state superintendent of public
instruction, spoke to an interested audi
ence on the theme, The Rural School
Problem"
Supt. Nelson said in part: 1T is
proper that the great agricultural inter
ests of the state should be in perfect
harmony with those of education Both
touch, and should be in harmony. We
may der in church work and in poll
tics. but when it comes to the work of
education We stand on common basis.
The child of the poor man has an equal
opportunity with that of the rich.
The people of Kansas are fortunate
in that liberal provisions were made for
the education of her youth. We have
many things for which we should be
grateful, and the provision for the edu-
cation of our youth is one of them In
the early days when in Kansas liberty
battled with slavery and that opposed
20 progress our fathers found time to
outline a system of education And
when the sons of Kansas were fighting
on southern fields, legislators and edu-
Gators at home interested themselves
in passing laws which gave to US the
largest possible educational advantages.
There are two points in connection with
this-first, the great agricultural advan-
tages which the state possesses, and the
OIner It's eQuCaIlOndl pOIlCy-
If we read the messages of the gov
ernors of the early days we find that
they were united on this one PROPOSE
ton This made it possible for us to
secure one of the best school systems;
but nothing ever was done so well that
1t could not be improved upon. In edu-
cation this is especially true, and it is
dangerous for US to become satisfied and
not think that we can do better today
than yesterday
But conditions in the early days
were different from what they are now.
We had no large cities; and it is true
there are not many today, but We have
enough to attract the young men from
the country. There is and has been for
many years a tendency of our young
people to the cities" Mr.. Nelson grew
earnest in his dissertation of the superior
advantages which the towns and cities
afforded over those of the rural commu-
mites, likewise showing up the blight
ing effects which they had upon the
lives of many a country-bred youth.
There is a fascination, delusion,
deception" said he which appeals to
young men and women Opposed to
this is the country life with its bad
roads, poor school houses and limited
social advantages; and SO we see how
opposite the conditions are. What can
the school do to eQualiZe the advant-
ages of the one with those of the
other? There is a movement through
out Kansas and many of the states, and
It is not a new one for the consolida-
secured a law authorizing that when the
patrons of a district so decided to dis
organize they might unite into building
up a central and stronger school. I
am glad that I can bring to you the
assurance that the public sentiment is
rapidly shaping itself in favor of the
consolidation of rural schools
Mr. Nelson explained that the ques-
ton OF expense was one of the first to
arise in the consideration of the propo-
sition. He had found from what few
reports that had come in from Kansas
that none of the patrons were willing
to return to the old district school sys-
tenn where the consolidated idea had
been tried Similar results seem to have
been reached in Ohio and Indiana, !
where the expense was much below
what the old plan was. you are inter-
ested. too. in good roads, the rural tele- |
phones and rural mail delivery Those |
are all friendly companions with the |
consolidation movement In fact the |
good roads and rural mails have pre-
pared the way for it. We propose to |
have a wagon to take the boys and girls |
to and from school in which they will |
be protected from the snow rain and |
cold, and the moral atmosphere will be |
Just as pure as that of the school room" |
Here Supt. Nelson dwelt with much en-
phasis upon the fiStic encounters in /
which small boys are wont tc indulge |
when on the way from their homes to |
the school house He believed that right |