Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-06-26
Consolidation of the District Schools
C. r. ALDRICH

ing may be secured, because any
person can do better work with few
subjects than many. The teachers
that are now engaged would be able
| to do better work if they were re-
lieved of one half of their classes.
The teacher that is compelled to
scatter her forces over fifteen subjects
daily can do little at best in the way
of training the concentrati of the
pupils minds. No general ever won
battle by scattering his army. The
farmer who divides his strength in an
effort to gain wealth in other channels
of industry invariably makes a
failure. If the plan of consolidation
has been successful in Ohio, Indiana
| and Illinois, and in other places in
Kansas, particularly at Lorraine,
Ellsworth county, can not see why
| 1t would not be good thing for the
people of Barton county. The four
districts near Clafin, namely %, 81,
81 and 81 have combined valuation
of about equal to the Ellinwood
school. The districts in Eureka
township namely 40, 20, % and 81
If combined would have a gIeater
valuation than the school at Hoising-
ton, and that district will have
S12, 600 school house with eight rooms
next year and will maintain a full
high school course. Pupils living at
a distance from these schools are
conveyed In comfortable vehicles at
the expense of the district.
1t will be the duty of the board to
secure competent men to drive these
vehicles. The driver will be
responsible Immediately to the board
for the conduct of the children to
and from school. Objection is made
that the team will not be able to make
these trips in bad weather. At times
there are apt to come storms of snow
and rain which would make the roads
impossible. This objection is not
valid. On just such days under the
present system in most common
schools there are only few pupils
present-those only who live near
the school house. Those who have
to walk far In such weather can not
attend. On our Barton county roads
there are few days in the year when a
wagon &C not get over the roads,
and child can more comfortably
ride four or five miles than he can
walk a mile and half or two miles,
as many now do. In operating a
creamery a wagon must make the
trip over the road each day. Rural
mail routes are being established and
are growing in favor every day, nor
does Uncle Sam object to locate and
maintain these routes on account of
bad roads and stormy weather.
If you will have your boys and
girls prepared at home to enter the
university, you will have them at
home of mornings and evenings to
help with the work on the farm there
by saving three years expense if
they are to be sent away from home.
Furthermore in regard to the
attendance, you will not only be able
to secure more regular attendance,
but by having the pupils conveyed to
school in proper rigs they will be
sheltered from the storm and cold
and their health will not be en-
dangered because they will be proper
ly wrapped and will reach the school
house without wet feet and damp
clothing, a result so often noticed
where pupils walk long distance.
In number of places this plan has
reduced expenses, but 1 believe it
will slightly increase the expenses in
this county in some instances
especially on the start. I am also
confident that they will not be
burdensome in any district.
If it is to save dollars and cents on
the first cost of our common schools
the union schools will not necessarily
do it, but if better buildings, better
furnishings and better equipment,
better teachers, better work, more
regular attendance, less tardiness,
larger enrolment, in fact all
advantages that characterize a good
school with high school privileges are
taken into consideration, then it is
very much cheaper.
A Suicide At OImitz.
About 1890, Tuesday morning
the Dad a man hv fhe name of WeS-