The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-02-07

TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS:
That through their teachers and such
other influences as they may be able
command, they endeavor to create
a public sentiment in favor of con-
solidation.
TO TOWNSHIP BOARDS: That they
carefully consider the township plan
with regard to the feasibility of its
immediate adoption in their respective
districts: that if immediate adoption
is found impossible, the following be
pursued as steps toward its gradual
inauguration.
/. That where in two or more
adjacent districts under their juris-
dlction the pupils r too few for the
satisfactory maintenance OF a school,
the districts be united into one, en-
ploylng a part of the public funds
thus saved for the tr~ transportation of
the children who do not reside within
walking distance of the school.
2. That in al new school houses
are to be built, or changes in the
distributing of a township made, the
advantages of the large school over
the small be carefully considered.
The spirit and tendency of the age
is toward unification in all institutions.
The progressive school men of the
state will see to it that the cause of
public education does not lag behind
in the march of progress.
A FEW IOWA STATISTICS.
For the past few years several school
districts in Iowa have been conveying
children to and from school.
Dooln~o %ho -1n, - ,OoJ,,koI o, .
larger scale at Buffalo Center, in
Winnebago county, than at any
other Iowa point. In response to in
quiries made by the department of
public instruction, Prin. A. A. Sifert
makes the following report:
Number of children conveyed to
school. Answer. Forty-nine.
Average distance children are con-
veyed. Answer. From one and one
half to five and one-half miles.
Number of teams used. Answer.
Four.
Cost of team and driver per month.
Answer. Twenty-Five dollars.
Number of schools closed by reason
of Transportation ofchildren. Answer.
Four now and six ext year.
Length of time in months children
have been conveyed. Answer. Three
years of nine months each.
Estimated amount saved per month.
Answer Eighteen dollars per school
or S54 per month, orS486 per schoolyear.
Is the plan generally satisfactory?
Answer. Yes.
REMARKS.-The plan is entirely
satisfactory especially to those farm
ers who have tried it. 1 have paid
careful attention to the financial part,
and | believe my figures are correct.
Besides the above, the township has
saved the cost of erecting three school
houses. Our bus men are engaged on
contract bids. The routes are care
fully planned and let to the lowest
responsible bidders. They furnish
their own means OF conveya nce and
good wraps. The buses are closed
and carpeted, thus %affording the best
of protection for the children in case
of bad weather. Contractors give
bonds to go to every house where
children OF school age live. The
drivers are under contract to have
control of the children on the road to
and from school. They also sign a
contract to neither swear nor allow
swearing, use tobacco nor permit any
bad conduct, and in no case are they
allowed to drive faster than a trot.
Last winter when the thermometer
registered forty degrees below zero
and our country teachers could not
make their schools, losing from two
to three days each, our buses lost
only one day each.
In June Of 1898 the superintendent
OF public instruction visited Buffalo
Center in person and made careful in
quiries regarding the success of the
plan. So far as could be ascertained
all citizens, teachers and pupils we're
pleased.
The schools of the entire township
are under the control of the board of
directors elected at large by the
voters, on the second Monday in
March.
Part of resolutions passed by
the Illinois State Teachers Asso-
citation.
CONSOLIDATION OF RURAL SCHOOLS
Resolved, That we desire to reiterate
the resolution adopted one year ago
with reference to the consolid alton of
rural schools. Other states have now
carried this educationalreform through
the critical stage of experiment and
have demonstrated its entire practical
bility as an economic measure. We
urge teachers everywhere to give the
subject q careful examination and if it
approve itself to their Judgment, to
become active propagandists for its
establishment.
In particular reference to the
establishing of a central school
for Lura township, there is every
in favor of the testing
Of the idea ut this time. If the
project is dropped there will be
, movement inaugurated in the
coming spring that will likely end
.