New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1903-01-17
RURAL SCHOOLS
HOW CONSOLIDATION Is MANAGED.

HOW CONSOLIDATION is MANAGED.
In an Iowa County six contracts
were made each covering one Of six
routes. "When the roads are
muddy says the Forum, "the
drivers begin to collect children as
early as 7:l5 A. NJ, returning them
to their homes at :45 to 800 L.
M. The contractors are held to
careful restrictions. They must
furnish suitable covered vehicles,
safe and strong, with comfortable
seats, strong, safe aud quiet teams,
proper harnesses warm comfort
able blankets or robes sufficient for
the best protection aud comfort OF
each and all of the pupils to and
from the public school building aud
their respective homes all to be
subject to the inspection and ap-
proval of the school board. They
must arrive at the school house not
earlier than $50 not later than
$3.50 A. M. They must personally
drive and manage their own teams;
they must not drive faster than a
trot, nor race with others; they
must conduct themselves properly,
refrain from improper language in
the presence OF pupils, and from
the use Of liquor aud tobacco, they
must keep order and report impro-
per conduct on the part Of scholars.
Each contractor, except one who
receives $25, receives $50 per
month, and half a months pay is
retained to insure the fullfillment
of the details of the contract. /" The
cost of schooling per pupil was but
So, 81, against So. .O3 under the old
system of scattered schools.
Warwick district, Massachusetts,
is seven miles long by Ave miles
wide considerable area to be
served by one school. Yet "its 1O2
pupils from all points now attend,'
says the Forum, "a graded school
ina neat we'll appointed house at
the center, the children being con-
veyed at public expense. In six
years, the town has heightened its
school year so per cent; has in-
creased the teachers salaries IS
per cent; has employed special
teachers of drawing and music has
improved the quality OF instruc.
ton and has reduced the cost Of
the whole" One result of the sys-
TEN is to create flow of immigra-
tion into outlying districts and in.
crease the value of remote farms.
Abandoned farms are again in de-
mand, and the taxable basis is i'm
proved.
Supt. George P. Glenn, of Jack
sonville, Florida, has put in opera
ton plan for consolidating rural
schools that yields surprising re-
suits. The concentration Of child.
rem into new schools is accomp-
lished by means of wagonettes,
especially designed for the purpose,
and provided by the board of edu-
cation at public expense. They are
Of such capacity as to carry eight,
ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen,
eighteen and twenty children re-
spectively, and cost from $40 to
800 each.
Twenty seven Of these comfort
able vehicles are now running at
al average cost Of $3.50 per
month each.
These twenty seven conveyances
enable us to close twenty of
the old teacher schools, the
current cost Of which had previ.
ously been not less than $3.50 per
month for each school.
Hence the transportation system
now In operation produced a cur
rent saving Of $462 per month over
the old method.
Taking from this 1925, the in
crease In salaries for eight assist
ants at the centralized schools, and
there is still left a net saving Of
s237 per month which will pay for q
twenty wagonettes annually IL the
term be only six months. I
During the last decade, nearly =
all Of the northern states from .
Maine to Minnesota, have adopted .
he plan Of centralizing rural :
schools to greater or less extent, u
Is a means of improving rural VI
schools. V
Massachusetts, was the pioneer u
y many years, and has very defin- .
to legislation on the subject.
Pennsylvania papers are filled with p
enthusiasm over the prospect of an
arly arrangement OF the new sys- .
EN-. Ohio has long since carried d
er Kiugsville centralized school 8
ar beyond the pale Of experiment, "
nd made it Of national repute. y
indiana and Illinois superintend- o.