The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-04-18
MERGING RURAL SCHOOLS.
State Supt. Olson Points Out Some OF
the Advantages.

st. Paul Pioneer Press j. W. Olsen,
state superintendent, and c. q.
Schulz, assistant superintendent, re-
turned Friday to st. Paul after ad-
dressing meetings in different parts of
the state in the interests of consolida-
ting rural schools
Consolidation of rural schools ls
bound to come, said Mr.. Olsen.
Everywhere there is agitation, and
many schools will consolidate this
fall. 1t is the most rational solution
of the rural school problem yet propos-
ed. The rural schools have not kept
pace with the city schools during the
past twenty years because of condl-
tions inherent in isolated rural schools,
making better superintendent, super
vision, inspection and organization
impossible, rather than to lack of
educational appreciation by the rural
population.
''The consolidation of isolated rural
schools and the transportation OF
pupils to and from school at public
expense has been tried in Massa-
chuseuts, Vermont, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, In
diana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and
Nebraska, and find that every state
and county superintendent in whose
territory it has been tried pronounces
it highly successful.
"The advantages of consolidation
are that it secures better teachers and
better classification of pupils, so that
both spend their time to better ad-
vantage 1t makes larger classes, and
that stimulates competition and
arouses greater interest and enthusi-
asm among the pupils. There is an
opportunity for more thorough super
vision by the county superintendent or
the principal of the center school.
There are very few all-around expert
teachers. Consolidation permits the
employment of at least one teacher
best adapted to primary work and one
or the higher studies. In large
schools it gives an opportunity for the
study of special branches under special
teachers.
1.-The consolidated district can afford
better buildings, better apparatus and
libraries than the single rural school;
at The road corner, and longer and
more regular terms of school will bt
possible.
Experience has shown that consoli'
dation and transportation of pupils al
public expense increases the attend.
ance and punctuality of pupils. The
health of the children is guarded bet
ter, even if they travel five miles il
covered wagon, than il they walked 6
mile or more through snow and mud
''The higher branches that can bt
taught at the larger central schools
means that the older children can bt
kept at home several years longer thar
under the present system. This tends
to keep boys and girls on the farm
whereas now they have to go to towI
schools early, and are more likely t
want to live in towns than on farm
"There are hundreds of schools II
Minnesota that last year enrolled les
than fifteen pupils. As the classe
range. from A, B, G, to algebra, tn
teacher might hear about thitry ten
minute Rotations day. The consol
idation of two schools means recita
tions twice as long and consequently
better work.
| "This sysem of consolidation mad
possible by law passed by the legisla
ure last winter, allowing any humble
of independent school districts to con
solidate, also has incidental adyan
tages. It tends to aid the good roads
movement and unites the interests
larger community. The wagon tina
carries pupils to school can carry ma
and convey parents to concerts c
meetings in the evening.