Ottumwa semi-weekly courier., 1903-09-24
MODERN METHODS.
SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION SCHEME
is SATISFACTORY.
SUCCESS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Transportation of Children to and
From Consolidated Schools is Being
Carried on With Success Also-The
Future of the Iowa Farmer Boy.


Future of the Iowa Farmer Boy.
Washington, Sept. 22.-(speciaD Il
Educators of Washington county and
IN fact, throughout the entire state, are
giving the study of Capitalization of
school serious thought. The pros
poets are that there will be very ma
terial change in the rural schools in
few years. The main objection has
been the transportation of children,
but that difficulty is soon to be over
ZONE by the inter-urban railways
which are fast being established over
the state. according to statement
made by prominent railroad promot-
er Districts along the line of road
can easily be formed and the transpor-
tation matter, which has heretofore
been the Objectionable feature. need
not come up to discourage those
citizens who are anxious to have
better schools in the country dis
tricts.
At present Washington county has
one school at Charlottesville which
has inaugurated the consolidation
feature. One of the districts is join
ed with the town school and the pu-
pills are transported by one man for
$35 per month The man who trans
ports the children is at leisure good
portion of the day to earn additional
money with his team if he cares to.
Superintendent Albert W. Graham is
In sympathy with the consolidated
movement. and especially so since it
has been tried in his school at Craw-
fordsville.
In speaking OF the consolidation Mr..
Graham points out few of the many
paramount advantages of this system
as follows:
II brings the best educational ad-
vantages within reach OF ALL
Children have the advantage of be-
ing under the instruction of the most
competent teachers. (a). Teachers of
rural schools are mostly beginners,
and il good cnes are secured, they can
be retained only during the expert
mental stage of their teaching career.
(bA. The energy of the teacher in the
grades is not spread over so much sur
face, hence. better work can be done
and more attention can be given to
the needs of the individual pupil.
Most parents expect to give their
children a higher school education
than the rural school affords. Why not
give them those advantages at home,
where the children can be under
guidance and influence of parents.
Many young people leaving the pure
I moral surroundings of country life
are not able to withstand the environ
ment, when sent away from home to
attend soE.e OF the higher institutions
OF learning.
Figures by Barrett.
State Superintendent r. c. Barrett,
In his last report, says consolidation
has been tried in twenty-eight counties
in Iowa. transportation in thirty-five
and both in nineteen. Consolidation
has been adopted by sixty-three dis.
tricts, and eighty districts have trans
ported pupils at the expense of the dis
trict. In nine counties districts have
been consolidated without providing
transportation at the expense of the
districts. In sixteen counties pupils
have been transported where there
was no consolidation. The state super
intendent received replies from county
superintendent to the question as to
what the sentiment in the counties is
toward consolidation and transporta.
ton. They may be classed as follows:
Favorable 25, opposed 26, divided 12
partly favorable 4, unsettled 5, grow
ing in favor 23 Where the system
has been tried and the results report
ed, il produced good effects in 27 coun-
ties, while in five it was doubtful The
patrons in twenty counties are report
ed to be well satisfied, while in eight
counties there was some dissatisfac-
ton, owing generally TO bad roads.
Progress of the Age.
With his children transported to a
central school by trolley, his mail deliv-
cred by an endless cable after the ar
rival of all daily mail trains, and the
benefits of the modern telephone, the
Iowa farmer, in a few years, will rea--
lie all the benefits of the greater cen
ters Of population, besides faring from
a table such as only rich man can af-
ford.
Bloomfield.