Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-10
BARRETT Tells OF TRIP
Condition of Various Rural
Schools Just Visited by State
Superintendent
GENERAL CONDITION GOOD
School Houses, However, Were Mostly
Found to Be Devoid of Any Approved
Libraries-The Idea of People Gen.
orally Concerning Consolidation OF
Rural School Thought to Be Wrong.

L
Rural School Thought to Be Wrong.
| Des Moines Feb 10.-Superlntehoeh'
Barrett of the department OF puoilc
instruction. who.was in his Office yes
terday after having spent the past
week visiting schools in different parts
of the state and delivering addresses,
has n, number of interesting observa-
lions to make on the conditions ne
found in the rural schools visited. MI
Rarrett carried out the trip he origin
ally planned, in spite of stormy weather
and bad roads. He addressed tWo
farmers institutes, one teachers as
ISOLATION. two meetings of parents and
others interested in education, two hign
| schools and visited besides SIX sePaI-
ate country schools and three consoi-
idated schools.
In speaking Of his trip, Mr.. Barrett
said:
81 had profitable trip. The coun-
try superintendents entered most cor
daily into the spirit of the work. Ihey
made all the local arrangements ana
selected the schools to be visited Oi
the single schools visited all but one OF
the buildings has been in use for years.
Usually there We're separate outbuild-
ings. coal or wood shed, we'll, trees and
fences about the school grounds A few
school houses had storm windows, but
often the foundation wall was in need
of repair and the buildings not banked
School houses were generally found to
be devoid of any approved library.
In number were found unused, dust
covered, useless, high priced, nonsens-
| ical sets Of charts which never should
| have been purchased. At least one
school was found seated with single
seats, with slate blackboards, with the
walls adorned with we'll selected pic
lures, cloak rooms. library cases, and
a jacketted stove. Even In this reas-
onably modern, well equipped building
no adequate provision had been made
to provide for the admission of pure
air or the escape of the impure.
Schools varied in size from fourteen
to twenty six. One of the six separate
schools visited was taught by gradu-
ate of small Iowa college, and all
were experienced in teaching. Usually
the work was good, and in some
schools excellent. The county superin-
tendent stated that the schools, every
thing considered, were above the aver
age.
"In Pottawattamie county Superin-
tendent Q. j. McManus accompanied
a
opened for use last September Those
were both two room buildings, built in
different parts of school township,
and were erected to take the places of
separate single room sub-district
schools. Each building cost about ST.
900 and is thoroughly modern. Both
rooms in each house are built on the
ground, are heated by furnace placed
in the basement. The attendance at
both schools was large. The pupils fur
nish their own transportation or walk.
Few children reside more than two
miles from their respective schools.
For many years the people of this
| township have maintained separate
SUBJ district schools, and it became nec-
essary for them to replace a number of
| the buildings with new structures. At
ter due consideration they decided to
erect two two room buildings and bring
| the children of number of the SUBJ
districts to these buildings. Judging
| from what saw, the new arrangement
| Is highly satisfactory. Work being
done was found to compare favorably
| with that in graded schools in cities and
towns.
/ f&1p vscn v,1
building was found, with three teachers
in charge. This was the only place Wis
| tied where hacks are used to convey
any number of pupils to and from
school The building at this point is
two stories high, and is an -to-date
structure in every way.
| "Our people, think have the errone-
Gus idea that 1T Is the plan of those
VINO favor the improvement of rural
schools OF sub-districts to close all OF
4 the schools OF the township and trans
port to single school building at OF
near the center Of the township. This
plan is only practicable where condi-
tons are favorable. Local conditions
must in each case be considered.
iowa has a large number of very
small schools. and 1T is believed that In
many Instances there could be great
Improvement and better results, IL two
or three schools were consolidated into
one. This is the plan adopted in Pot
tawattamie county, and is proving en-
tirely satisfactory.
"As the time for the holding of ths
March elections and board meetings
approaches, 1t is to be hoped that much
more attention will be given by the
4 people residing in sub districts and rur.
j al Independent districts to the improve.
ment of grounds. buildings, ETC., before
the opening of the next term of school
This is practicable and sensible kline
Of rural school improvement In which
all citizens should unite"
AMEs LECTURE COURSE.
Some Excellent Talent Secured for tn,
i Spring Course.
Special to Times Republican.
4 Ames, Feb. 10.-The advertising mat
ter for the spring lecture course at tn,