The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-12-17
EDUCATIONAL.


ccanty Teacher Association. November
ssth, 1898. at Big Stone Gap. Va.
I The small country school is now the
centre Of interest" in the educational
world President Harper. Of the Chicago
University, Gays the two great PROBLEMS
beferc the American people today are the
problem Of che small college aud the
problem Of The snail country school. OF
these iro problems. the latter l. bv far
the mere important. The fact that the
rural school must educate the masses
makes iis development a problem Of ire
mendcus Importance. The General aud
Southern Education Boards. the Virginia
state Teachers Association. Of which Won
are part. The National Educational As
soeisfion. which met in the city of Boston
short time ago. arc al concentrating
their efforts In creating public sentiment
IN favor of popular edacsiiou and develop
ing the small country school. The trus-
tees Of the Peabody Fund. which amounts
20 eighty thousand $50 .OD0l dollars an
nusily. recently decided that this edrca-
tionsl fund should hereafter be sppro-
priaied 10 the cause Unpopular education
II i gratifying to see this growing public
sentiment iu favor Of better country
schools II marks the beginning Of
ne~ era Ia the educational world
This nee Interest 90 rural education
estRllishc- permanertl, the small country
school. IL i too democratic IN iis end 10
l'e ahsudunrd An that We hear si,on,
the consolidation OF school. end th,
transportation Of pupils doesn't mean the
abandonment Of the rural school. IL
means. Instead. higher drreiopmenf Of
these schools ~ the rcadiastmeni now
being made in several stst.s. few of th,
~orihiess schools uay DO abandoned and
ought 20 hr larger and bette, school.
however. viii take their places. We be-
lietc in the consolidation ct school. aud
the transportation ct pupil. where the
conditions are prapiiians Owing 60 our
conditions. this plan. except Co a limited
extent, e impraciicahlc m Southwest
Virginia. oar rosd. aud mountain. would
make The transportation 80 ruf.il. imro..
sihle Ma--achusctts has csp.rim.,tel
"iih this plan MOTE largely ih,u anv other
state. The fplinviur b. sn cstisrt taken
irou report Of one ct the agent. of the
State Board Of Education OF Mas-arhu.
seii-. Among ,he obstacles 90 the cone
'olidation OF -choois 8. the persistent OBJ
isciion Of some people 90 ihe transnorta-
ton of small children long distance. in
Dol Ia IfH. aH.N
Haecs 10y enthusiastically drivers. iu SOME
tow nrlips With extended atr-s. lead r,,a. 1
"idciy scattered populations, csn>ali. I
daiiou NAV be impossible iu such case. I
The hrs Instruction available should /
hc furnished iu The local school honsr
10 n school IL situated iu a good ncish- /
hond With au attendance ct taruty.fre
puph-, 90 should Doe continued. o.. iustrnc.
ii"n uudcr these conditions may hc of
more value than ilat ohfaiusi,ir ii a. CON.
-"l'daied schooi." Thi. d,. our ease rs.
arils. Since We can consolidate oni, to
a. iEiicd eatcut. uc mr.i flfni-h Oh,
best Instruction available Doe thr local
-rh'"l house. lhc scnonl problem OF
South~o-t Virginia b.. NOT the con.olids
lion OF sehsoi-. i.uf nt.tb, i..,t.,...,.,
nf Oh, i.,,i .,a..f D.. .S...
-'N ""'
-'-' ''''"'' n''rtA school
boz 'he state. aud thc school problem viii /
Ho largely solved.
Sine, small .......t.. ..t....i..
''''''' '' '' e'H-
'.1' 10 "''"N' '" Important place 300 oar ,
'H"iic sc"'0l -i -frui. ii uas hc oi snmc in-
Ierc-t Co contrast thr new With t....ft
NJ. a, ,ot l.f...
'"' country
'' '"' paste HnH even ut tHc nrcs- 3
'nt' Will hc thc country -ch..ei OF thc fs- d.
lure. la had teo woods which o.. Il
lihcrcutiatc the new nont Oh, .f5 u f
aould use thc terms . r.detn .,.s ..... O.
graded 80 one can fail CD n.ft.. a.. ID
transition nos being made f-,.n, Ill.,. ,,.. o.
organized ungrsdrd -chnei fo tlr .,...,. D.
lied graded -chuol TIE transition h,. s
already hrrr madr im ssai, .f .,ar .,,... Cd
'hr rullfr s,hrof. .f R.....t. ~