The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-12-20
GENERALIZATION OF COUNTRY SCHOOLS
An Account Of Experiments in Iowa Given by the State
Superintendent
HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSES THE PLAN.
Says Resulted in Increased Attendance Better Teachers
and Reduced Cost

to farmers children to get just as
good educations as those who live in
towns and possibly at a still lower
cost This is what we want to see;
the children of farmers to have Just
the same opportunities to make the
most Of the mental capabilities as
the city aud town dwellers, aud not
be subjected to any more hardship in
getting them. In the report pub.
lished, Prof. Barrett sums up the
advantages gained in just the same
terms that the superintendents in the
east where the system has been 10
operation longer do.
He says; Briefly summarized the
advantages claimed for the system
are Ia part as follows:
|, 1t will secure better teachers.
2. 1t will reduce the per capita
cost Of education in the districts
affected in nearly every case, and
without exception after the first cost
Of buildings, where buildings are re-
quired has been paid
3. 1t will insure better classified.
tion Of pupils, SO that both teacher
and pupil may spend their time to
be ter advantage.
4. Larger classes will stimulate
competition aud better effort and
greater interest and enthusiasm
among the pupils.
5. Supervision will be more hor
ough and more easily accomplished ny
tie county superintendent q BY
the principal Of the township or cen
tral school where It is large enougli
to require principal and asS's staut
teachers
s. The attendance will be la ger,
as experience has shown.
I. Greater punctuality would be
secured, as the children would all be
brought to school before nine O'Clock
in the morning.
s. Consolidation would provide
better buildings and more apparatus
aud libraries without additional ex-
pense.
8. Longer and more regular terms
Of school would be the result Of
uultiog the forces of several small
districts into one strong, central
school, which could be kept running
eight or nine months 10 a year.
10. The health Of the children
would be better guarded where they
are conveyed from their homes to
the schools in comfortable vehicles,
than where they have to travel
through mud or snow for mile or SO
70 the school, as they often do under
the present system
II. The older children would he
kept at home and in school longer
Than they can be at present because
the central school could provide
advanced courses Of study under a
capable teacher. So the necessity Of
going to town to school would be put
of for several years. The course OF
study would be 50 arranged as 10
accommodate these older pupils at
such time as they can be spared to
attend school. This would tend to
keep the boys and girls 90 the farm
instead Of encouraging themt TO leave
IL and go to TIE towns This is one
Of the main purposes Of the system
l2 1t VIII improve the farm sur
roundings and add attractions to
country life by stimulating desire
to know more about the works Of
nature.
49, In the central school there
would be opportunity for the study Of
special branches which cannot be
offered in the district school, because
the teacher lacks either The tone or
the ability to teach them.
a. in shors, the opinion is almost
unanimous to the effect chat the CON
solidation Of small schools, and the
transportation Of the pupils to a
central school at the expense Of a
district, would result in better schools
at less Or no greater expense.
Mrs. Bert Tanbmau entertained a
lofge party OF her lady friends Thurs