The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-13
RURAL SCHOOLS
DISCUSSED.
Florida School Official Tells Georgia
Teachers of Advantages of Com
bining Schools in Country
Districts-Better Work
at Reduced Cost.

Athens. Ga, July 11.-(Special.) Tine
address at the university chapel this
morning In the presence Of the teachers
attending the summer school. as wen
as a large number OF the citizens Oh
Athens. was delivered by Hon. George
P. Glenn. superintendent OF instruction
for Duval county. Florida. who spoke on
the subject of "A Solution of the Rural
School Problem"
Mr.. Glenn's address was a powerful
plea for the Capitalization of schools.
and during his remarks he produced
many facts and statistics to bear him
out in the assertions he made. Speaking
OF the results in Duval county, where
he has been In charge OF the SCHOOLS
for the past few years. Mr.. Glenn
said:
There were. six years ago, In this
county. forty-fve rural schools OF one
tea cher each. for white children, estab-
lished by former administrations. The
work of these schools in general was so
unsatisfactory and the per capita OF ex-
pense ran so high In many Of them
that the present administration ueter-
mined to reduce them in number to
fifteen schools OF three teachers each. In
choosing sites for the centralized schools,
the ones having the greatest number Oh
school children within radius or one
and half miles have been preferred.
This distance was chosen as legal
distance the law fixing the distance at
which schools must be established. Five
of these schools are now in operation,
each accommodating the children OF
about sixty to one hundred square miles
Of territory.
Teachers n, Better Work.
THE effort Of the teacher is more eff
fective by means of more adequate equip
ment Now we will take six schools
scattered in the woods not far from each
other; If l ask my board of public IN
struction for six globes. six times 20 Is
$780, then ask for six sets of maps and II
will take a considerable SUM to pay FOR
them. And SO on with the other equip
ment necessary for the schools. The con-
soldation of schools reduces the cost Of
equipment by requiring only one set of
apparatus where six sets are required
under the old system. The health of the
pupils Is preserved in rainy weather. Tru-
ancy is wholly eliminated. no chance for
II WbateYer.
THE country maiden may continue her
education without fear of moiestation
by yagrant vagabonds, and the youth pro-
longs his school days because he can
progress. When girl reaches her teens.
in many parts of the country. she ceases
to go to school, because her father thinks
it inadVisable for her TO get out of his
sight or out of reach of his shotgun.
When ] used to visit my schools in the
country districts / would find few If any
large Girls In school; now L md young
ladies IN those schools nearly tWenty-one
years old. And | lind young men there
who are at least as tall IL not taller
than | am, who are seeking to Increase
their knowledge. and now, under this
system, they are able to do this.
The average attendance is increased
Il 1-2 per cent. giving a corresponding
increase OF school funds from the state
Many children formerly so isolated as
neveI to have access to any school are
now accommodates. They ara the best
bidders for the driving Of the wagonettes.
of the districts. for they take their own
The farmer and his family are more con-
tent with their self-sustaining occupa-
ton Ethical culture is obtained free
from the designations Of social life AS
manifested IN CITIES. The development
OF the art of teaching by young teachers
Is more feasible to the superintendent.
who at sight Of the old, abandoned school
houses, thinks Of Writers lines
still sits the schoolhouse, by the road.
4 aged beggar, summing"
Each a fit monument TO n ragged beg
carly rural school system. now departed
from old DuvaI. put not lamented.