The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-01-30
PROPOSED SCHOOL CHANGES.

SMoon 10 a. n. S2Jmoon 20 a. m.
PROPOSED SCHOOL CHANGES.
Ofrecent years, a movement has
been on foot to consolidate the public
schools into more central locations.
In Maryland, the State Board of
Education has adopted schedule,
which, while not yet mandatory, is
a step looking III the direction ofhav-
ing the higher grades taught only in
the larger institutions ofpublic learn
ing. The school question: is one that
comes most closely to the personal
interest of every resident Of the COM
munity, and, therefore, any change
is viewed with alarm unless the
benefit to be gained is made apparent
to those directly concerned. Wehave
learned that there is considerable
opposition to the adjustment of the
higher grades in the schools located
in rural communities, and one of our
esteemed subscribers of the second
district has interested himself in this
matter to sufficient degree as to be
we'll posted on the subject. Wen must
confess that we are in ignorance as
to the true motive of those who are
responsible for this change, and it is
hard to discuss the question in an in
telligent manner until all sides have
been heard. We expect, however, to
soon be able to publish statement
from the State Board of Education
which will throw some light upon the
matter.
A number of States in the Union
have established a few large well
equipped central schools; and in order
to enable all pupils to attend, have
made it possible, by the use of car
riages with good teams and reliable
drivers, to collect the school children
every morning from their homes,
convey them to the schools and re-
turn them the same evening. 1t is
argued that the plan, on the whole,
is much cheaper than the old one and
more efficient. 1t also secures better
teachers and better attendance. In
the State of Iowa, for example,, of
the 10, 900 schools, 5000 have an
attendance of under twenty while
$500 average under ten. This as 4
matter of course, means poor teach
ers and poor results. Such efforts
prevent illiteracy, but do not give the
pupil we'll rounded education in
order to enable him to successfully
combat with affairs of life BY con-
solidating these small one room
schools, equipment can be procured,
without increased expense, for first
class buildings with surroundings
and teaching of a stimulating char
acter.
In the list of States that have
adopted this modern plan are in
cluded the six New England States,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ne
braska, Kansas, North and South
Dakota and Florida. This has had
the effect of frightening the schools,
raising the standard of teachers
and better classifying the pupils. In
a measure it also adds to the social
feature of each community, which is
a serious drawback among some of
our rural residents.
"In all this matter" observes the
New York Evening Post, sit is more
interesting to note local jealousies
and theories of subdivision of power
yielding to practical needs, while it is
a temptation to forecast the effect of
school consolidation upon social
conditions in the country. It's plain
that the improvement of school ia
cilities will tend to keep the more
prosperous farmers from moving to
the towns to give the children a
chance for an education. 1t is clear,
too, that children of foreign parent
age-refractory material for the dis
trict schools-get their Americaniza-
ton, with their education, more
rapidly in the larger, more efficiently
conducted classes. One may hope
also that the greater seriousness of
work ofthe new school will gradually
create better class of school COM
mltteenen, less given to petty politics
and less open to the blanishments of
the schoolbook agents. What the
observer of democratic institutions
will welcome in the movement is the
spectacle OF a complicated and rela-
lively inefficient order, by some un-
conscious process, working out into
simplicity and efficiency"
fit is i'll contemplation to endorse
such system in Maryland, it would
be we'll for the State Board of Edu-
cation to make public its views on the
matter. They should be perfectly
frank in dealing with the public for no
interests are more jealousy guarded