The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-03-14
CONSOLIDATION OF RURAL SCHOOLS.
Junior Gunpowder Agricultural Club
Favors the New Plan.


At the last meeting of the Junior Gunpowder
Agricultural Club the subject discussed was:
1.-THE consolidation of the rural common scno0ls
for the better instruction of the pupils" we
append below the views of some OF those
present:
Mr.. Joshua G. Bosley said SIT depends much
upon whether community can aHqra 70 ~ 70
with satisfactory results. Tne more tne pupIis
are congregated, the better the teacher can 90
may overwork himself with twenty scholars and
six or eight grades. The teacher should never
discourage child rather give little extra IRA
help, as every child is not apt. Some OF Jne
most successful men in the world are those VINO
were very poor scholars, and some VINO were
the best pupils unsuccessful. waiter Scout
was, in his young days, considered Ounce. My
experience is that teacher sometimes gets
credit for what he did not deserve ana gess
ton would prevent much trouble with parents.
1 believe the plan would add expense to the tax
Mr.. Laban Sparks said "The fact of bringing
children from different sections together would
make them feel general interest in education
and cause an incentive to do as well as others
are doing. If children are benefited then the
taxpayers will get back what it costs them in
projecting advanced IDEAS"
Mr.. Frank G. Scott said Il am in favor of the
consolidation of schools, If do not have to pay
too much towards supporting the plan. 1t is on
the high school system where the many grades
can be taught conveniently and where better
discipline can be exerted. think the bringing
of the children together will be very helpful, as
they will profit by one another's Efforts
Mr.. James b. Ensor said: 1.-THE School Board
asks the expressions of the people on the sub
iect. / am heartily in favor of the system and
would be willing to canvass the county to get
the plan adopted. In my. judgment it would do
more toward the education of the young than
anything else. 1t is impossible for one teacher
to properly instruct the pupils in the several
grades, as time will not permit it. Eight to ten
minutes for a grade does not permit the
explanation that should be given. In some in
stances the teacher becomes so much interested
in the instruction of pupils of one grade that
more time is taken and the teaching of the next
grade is overlooked. The consolidation of the
schools will be the greatest blessing that can be
and we should sacrifice time and money, if ne
cessary, to accomplish it. 1t would correct the
trouble OF going away from tho home school
and would prevent unpleasantness which occurs
sometimes by scholar leaving one school to go
to another. The system of consolidation would
benefit greatly the children, as they would learn
in one year as much as they can now learn in
three years. We must educate the young, but
the present system is a great disadvantage. If
we do not consolidate the schools it looks as il
we must do without the seventh and eighth
grades"
the consolidation of the rural schools, as the
primary object is the education of the young.
to properly instruct the many grades as now
taught. With well graded school any child
can get good education. The rural schools
more favored ones. On referring to the statis-
tics find that in eight schools in the 8th dis
trIct that average under 40 scholars there are
are 1.062 pupils. The cost for fuel of the eight
schools was $299.03, and the latter school $3l625
The cost Tor repairs req OF the former $5lsSs and
eight schools, S3,375, and the latter $9.577.24
Cost Of books of former, $307.94, and of the
latter. $S5405. On noting the attendance of
scholars in a milling district l find that
out of 50 scholars that entered the first grade
only eleven were in the second grade, showing
clearly that the children leave the school to go
to the mill. No child should be allowed to go to
the mill under II years Of age. | believe the
consolidation OF schools VIII save money as well
as be great benefit to the youth. On reading
from the Year Book of 1901 from the Agricul-
tural Department find that eighteen states al
ready have by legislation adopted the system of
consolidation of the schools and that the results
are there is less cost and better instruction.
There is better grading or classification of
work in special branches. as drawing, music and
nature study; it leads to more weeks of school
ing and higher grading; it insures better teach
ers it stimulates, broadens companionship and
cultivates better attendance. Better buildings
and better equipment are had. The plan would
necesstate the hiring of teams, but the drivers
would have to be careful and cautious and pos
sess good moral character. The pay of the
teachers would be regular and no cutting of
the pupils. Though the law of our State takes
from the teacher portion of his salary because
of this, yet the law should be corrected"
Mr. George Z. Shelley said: 1.-THE expense
may be greater but the benefit the children re-
ceive will no doubt repay for the outlay. The
incentive will be for better attendance and i'm
capabilities. On the line of a railroad the
plan might very well be adopted, but in some
sections of the county it might be impracti
cable.r
Mr.. B. NJ. Brooks said II am in favor of it. l
cannot see that the cost of carrying out the
system would be much more than the present
expenses
At the close of the discussion the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
'ReS0IUed, That we. as members of the Junior
Agricultural Club, are in favor of the CONSOLE
dation of the rural common schools for the bet
ter education of the pupils, and pledge ourselves
to work to accomplish that end"