Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-17
ABOUT TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.
State Superintendent Barrett Woulc
Join Rural Sub-districts.

The establishment of township
schools in Wapello county may be
realized at no distant date, if the peo-
pie of this county, who are interested
in the Improvement of the educational
facilities in the different localities fol-
low the lines suggested by State Su--
perintendent r. G. Barrett, in his re-
port of his recent trip through some
of the counties in the state. During
the first week of the present month
Mr.. Barrett visited many rural schools
and number of consolidated schools
and though he found that quite good
work was being done in the latter, yet
his report of the success of the town
ship school was exceedingly encourag-
ing, and it has set many of the pa.
irons of the public school system and
many educators of the state thinking
as to the advisability of adopting the
new plan.
Barrett Tells of Trip.
In speaking of his trip, Mr.. Barrett
says: Il had profitable trip. The
county superintendent entered most
cordially into the spirit of the work
They made all the local arrangements
and selected the schools to be visited
OF the single schools visited all but
one of the buildings have been in use
for years. Usually there We're sepa-
rate outbuildings, coal or wood shed
well, trees and fences about the
school grounds. A few school houses
had storm windows, but often the
foundation wall was in need of repair
and the buildings not banked. School
houses are generally found to be de-
void of any approved means of venti
lation. Most schools had a small, well
selected library. In number were
found unused, dust-covered, useless
high-priced, nonsensical sets of charts
which never should have been pur-
chased. At least one school was found
seated with single seats, with slate
blackboards, with the walls adorned
with we'll selected pictures, cloal,
rows, library cases and a iacketed
stove. Even in this reasonably mod
ern, well equipped building, no ade-
quate provision had been made to pro
vide for the admission of pure air OF
the escape of the impure.
Schools varied in size from four
| teen to twenty-six. One of the ST,
schools visited was taught by grad
uate of small Iowa college, and al
were experienced in teaching. Usually
| the work was good. and in some
schools excellent. The county super
| intendent stated that the schools
everything considered, were above the
average.
AT Crescent City a new four room
building was found, with three teach
ers in charge. This was the only place
visited where hacks are used to con
vey pupils to and from school. Two
are in daily use. The building at thi:
point is two stories high, and is an VI
to date structure in every way.
Local Conditions Govern.
Some people, l think, have the er
roneous idea that it is the plan O.
those who favor the improvement O
rural schools to close all of the schools
of the township and transport to {
single school building at or near thu
center of the township This plan il
very practicable where conditions are
/ favorable. Local conditions must il
each case be considered.
Iowa has a large number of yer,
small schools, and it is believed tina
in many instances there could be grea
improvement and better results i
two or three schools were consolidated
into one. This is the plan adopted il
Pottawattamie county, and is provin.
entirely satisfactory.
The glory of a nation is in its sun
total.