The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-03
FOR
BETTER SCHOOLS ANr SCHOOL HOUSES.

Press Association Mir. John c. Williams
 of The Talladega Mountain Home, in-
 troduced a resolution which, because of its importance, we again pablish, as fol- lows:
 Whereas, we note with delight that the citizens of the State of Alabama are now thoroughly aroused as to the importance of educating their children, be 1t there fore
 Resolved, That the Alaba ma Press As sociation promises its enco lragement and support to this great work. That we favor local taxation and request the Leg islafure of Alabama to enact law, as provided in the constitution, giving the voters of the different counties the right to vote on this question. That we peti- ton our school authorities to glve every encouragement and support at their com niala to the upt.uiliing and strengthening the school in the rural districts Tn the State. We favor redistricting the State into more convenient school districts. This resolution was adopted by unan- imous vote, as should have been done for 1t is a matter that concerns a large number of the people of Alabama, as we'll as the State itself. The educational spirit which has been aroused all over Alabama is an encouraging sign which looks to better schools. better books end better teachers in all the grades of learn ing and in all the educational institutions of the State. It means that Iiliteracy must be driven out of Alabama in the only way that it can be effected.
 But there is one point not alluded to in the resolution to which we desire to call special attention, and that is school houses. Any one who will travel through the rural districts of Alabama will find
 many school buildings which are neither | safe nor comfortable, and which are not suitable for the purposes to which they
 are put. This is @ wrong which ought to be righted. Neither the State nor any
 community has a right to herd children
 structed as to provide both for the health
 and comfort of the pupils. A house
 which cannot be warmed or ventilated
 Is a menace to the health and the lives
 of the children. There are such houses
 in communities which could do better.
 And there Is another view of this ques-
 ton which should appeal especially to all
 parents. The object of sending children
 to school is that they may be educated.
 They cannot study to advantage or ad-
 vance properly in their studies if they are
 not comfortably situated. A house which
 cannot be made warm in winter and
 pleasant in summer, and which has not
 enough room or proper ventilation is not
 only cruel to the pupils, but is detrimental
 to their health and a bar to study. No | child can secure the best results in a
 crowded. stuffy room.
 There are two remedies for such con- l ditions. the first of which is the con- | course is possible. To show what we | allude to we copy an extract from an address recently delivered by Hon. James W. Robertson, Commissioner of Agricui- ture for the Dominion of Canada. He | has been making extensive observations | in Canada and in the Northern States of our Union, and we take the following extract frQn his address: Six years ago Gustavus Township in Ohio, became the pioneer in that part
 Of the United States in the consolidation | districts in the township, and as many
 small schools. Then the districts were
 united into one, and a central school was
 erected at cost of 5000. It Is frame
 lighted class rooms, a small recitation l room and cloak rooms. Instead Of nine | teachers in little isolated schools, there
 are now a principal at a salary of S65 per month, and four assistant teachers | at $& or 80 per month, in the united
 school; Nine nice-looking vans are used
 to convey the children from and to their l homes. These wagons, or school vans.
 have comfortable seats running length
 wise Of the vehicle, waterproof canvas | covers and spring gearings. Before con- soldatfon the average attendance at the
 schools in that township was 125 On the
 day of my visit it was 143 out of an en-
 rollment of 1892 The year before con
 solidation the cost of maintenance of the
 nine schools of the township was $500. l Four years afterwards the cost of inc
 centralized schools, including the convey | ing Of the children, was s, ,156, being an | increase in expenditure by the township l on It's school system of $256. However, | the average attendance at the central school was so much greater than at the | single district schools, that the cost of
 education was decreased N.59 per pupil
 on the average attendance. Moreover,
 three years of high school work is carried
 on in the consolidated school, and the
 s3,15e |'''
 These figures are both interesting and
 suggestive. and he gives some further de-
 tails showing how the children are con-
 veyed to and from the schools He says,
 The contracts for conveying children to
 and from the schools are given to respon-
 stble persons. These are under bond to 1 provide comfortable covered wagons, and
 to comply with the regulations of the | school authorities. The vans hold from l fifteen up to over twenty-five each The | longest route traversed was about six l miles. The vans arrive at the school at | from ten to twenty minutes before l o'clock, the hour at which the forenoon session begins. The afternoon session
 closes at hah-past 8 o'clock. At Johnston | eohool where the closing exercises were
 observed the children were in the vans starting for their homes in less than five minutes afterwards.
 These vans are used at cost of from N.27 to $2.o7 per school day. They are
 not required to wait more than two
 minutes at any house. but as a matter
 of fact it is stated that it is rarely found
 necessary to wait more than one minute,
 and 1t was very uncommon thing for | child to miss the van.