Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-02

In Indiana more than $500 pupils are
transported by the use of Isl wagons
in fifty-one counties. In Iowa consol-
idaton has teen tried in twenty eight
counties: transportation in thirty-flye,
and both in nineteen. Sixty-three
districts have adopted consolidation
and eighty or more have transported
pupils at the expense of the district.
In nine counties districts have consol-
idated with providing transportation at
the expense of the district, while pupils
have been transported In sixteen coun-
ties where there was no consolidation.
Similar reports are given in other
states. The popularity of the plan is
shown by the expenditure of $142.000
in one of the states for the conveyance
of children. AS the merits of the plan
become known it grows in favor. pref
udices and imaginary objections hre
overcome and hearty cooperation
given one corporation in this state now
transports by motor line forty pupils.
and in another the teacher has under
taken the contract to transport the pu-
pills with his own team. Consolidation
makes it possible to give the children
better education. Not SO many teach
teachers may be employed for the same
amount. Township high schools main
tanned for the benefit of pupils who
have completed the elementary course
of study for the first eight grades in
subdistrict schools have been estab-
lished in fourteen counties. Townships
densely populated, with large schools,
are urged to consider this plan.
Superintendent Barrett was quite
enthusiastic in regard to this matter
of consolidation and betterment of the
rural schools. "The extension of the
new system rests with the people them
tinue on their farms and be free from
the feverish life of the city and at the
same time give their children the best
possible education. they will do well
to investigate the advantages of con-
soldation. In the country is the ideal
| home. and any movement which tends
to keep the boys and girls there may
we'll be encouraged. To give equal
school privileges should be the anN-
| ious purpose of the state. / have yet
to find a single individual willing to
| contend against such a self evident
tf1Ct, Inc CGliu Ol Tic huluOlSSS pa
Il ent in the remotest school corporation
lis entitled to modern text books, ana
| apparatus, a beautiful school room, an
artistic schoolhouse. play ground plant
| ed with trees and flowers, library
stored with the choicest literature AMI
las competent teacher as the children
lin the best city schools. This may
/ be ideal, but the teacher and the cll-
| II ,f1n &c
not an idealist, who does not long TO go
/ beyond the commonplace, VINO is con-
! tent to live in the atmosphere OF the
past, who is always saying IN an that
lis good we now have the best, VINO
lis satisfied to let well enongn alone,
4 4--SYTs< rIgs-f----s- ueCUIi1e a leader IN
his trade or profession. OF all persons
teachers should not live among the
/ tombstones of yesterday, but go forth
as searchlights of the great and glor-
Iious prosperous tomorrow. Like the
| great Polar star they should stand
as guiding lights directing the falterirg
steps of all learners found upon the
llinitless plains of knowledge"
Attention was called by Superinten-
dent Barrett to the deficiency in the
4
falling off in the number of school
children. He spoke of partisanship in
the school and declared it should be
|rigidly excluded County superinten-
dents should for the benefit of the
schools be put under civil service rules
and regulations and be permitted TO
perform their duties until incompe-
Itency is manifested.
i On the subject of the wages Of teach
Iers Superintendent Barrett recommend
ed the adoption of the Indiana plan of
requiring that the daily wages of
teachers shall be not less than an
amount determined by multiplying 2h
cents by the general average of schol-
arship and success given the teacher
in his certificate at the time of con-
tracing. The general prosperity of the
country, and especially in Iowa, which
has brought to labor a fair increase In
wages, has not materially affected the
wages of teachers. reduction Of the
number of male teachers employed
during the year shows a slight advance
lin the average monthly salary, but an
4 increased number of female teachers
shows a slight decrease in the month
Ily SdluIN. NSiS 6ShSioA
lis that sufficient number of teachers
4 can not be secured for the schools.
. The young people claim that they find
it not only more remunerative to en-
gage in other work but pleasanter. En-
tering into the salary question, is the
question of matrimony. Marriage is
regarded as divine ordinance in
Christian nations, and even to retain
H.. ~, to .nlN tn hn
| restraint. So long as women teach.
and they should not be limited in num-
; bers, nor excluded on account of age.
conjugaI relations, since capacity to
teach is neither conferred nor taken
|away by marriage, nor anything else
save fitness alone, so long may it be
expected that the inexperienced teach
er to a greater or less extent will con-
tinue to enter the ranks of the pro-
fession annually. AS we have grown
) in material wealth we have been care
full to keep the pay of teachers down
and to crowd them into the back
! ground more and more with each sue
! ceeding year. In many localities 1t is
now a difficult thing for a teacher IN
a rural community to obtain com
Portable place to board. Can we hope
to retain the services OF men and wom-
! en- of exalted ideas in a profession
which brings scarcely a living under
such conditions? The answer must be