Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-23
State Superintendent RiggsWill
Start Consolidation Move
ment In Greene County
PROPOSED SYSTEM NOT NEW
The Plan Which Will be Followed
Originated in Massachusetts, and Has
Been Finding Favor in Many States
Since Then Many Township
Schools Ready to Consolidate.

| Des Moines, April 23.--State super
intendent of Public instruction ]. f.
| Riggs will go to Greene county some
| time early in May to consult with
County Superintendent A. b. OlingeT
| in regard to the consolidation of the
| schools Of that county This will be
the first step which the state superin-
tendent will take in an organized plan
on his part to secure a consolidation
of the country schools Of Iowa The
newly elected superintendent is firmly
convinced of the wisdom Of such a
plan. which was advocated by former
State Superintendent Barrett, and he
will bend his energies during his adj
ministration to bring such thing
about.
The schools of Greene county are In
condition to furnish good beginning.
The county superintendent writes tina.
they are mostly in dilapi'tated con-
dition and he thinks the time Is ripe
to start the campaign now.
State Superintendent Riggs differen-
tiates between consolidation and CEN
tralization. He has nothing to say as
to Capitalization" but says he is In
favor OF consolidation.
The difference" said Superintend-
ent Riggs yesterday, when questioned
concerning the matter, is this: Cen
trali2ation is the consolidation Of all
the schools in one township. Consoi-
ldation is the joining of two or more
l -. ~ Ia sch rf
the entire township or they may be
no more than two. I am in favor OF
such consolidation"
Details Of Plan.
The plan which the state superin-
tendent Is urging will work a revolu-
ton in the country school system CT
Iowa. 1t is part Of his plan to have
means of transportation arranged SO
that the pupils can be brought from
their homes to the school, no matter
what the condition of the roads.
Incidentally in this connection,
said Mr.. Riggs this Will solve the road
question of Iowa. 1t Will furnish a
constant incentive for better roads, and
anticipate the time will come when al.
the roads of Iowa will be first class.
l Will probably not live to see 1t, but
the time will come and the consolida-
ton of country schools will hasten tina.
time"
Superintendent Riggs arguments In
favor.of consolidation of schools arc
much the same as those advanced by
State Superintendent William K. Fow-
Ter. of Nebraska. Superintendent Fow-
Ter advanced about all the arguments
that can be advanced in favor Of such
a scheme In an address delivered in
Boston, entitled The Consolidation of
Country Schools and the Transporta-
ton of Pupils at Public Expense"
"TEe plan is not new one" said
Superintendent Riggs. 1t originated
in Massachusetts and has been finding
favor in many states since then. Some
OF the arguments advanced by Mr..
Fowler in favor of consolidation and IN
which / heartily concur, are:
i. 1t insureS much larger per cent
Of enumerated pupils.
"2. Pupils can be better classified
and graded.
30 Pupils can have the advantage
of better school rooms.
"A. Better teachers can be employ
ed, hence better schools.
"5. 1t permits better grading of the
schools and classification of the pupils.
IS. Transportation makes possible
the distribution Of mall.
Y. BY Capitalization, long step is
taken in the direction of the solution
OF the problem of how to keep the boy
on the farm. 1t brings to the farm
that which the boys often go to the city
to secure.
Many other arguments equally CO.
gent are advanced in favor of the sys-
tenn.
Il find" continued Mr.. Riggs, chat
there Is a great deal of interest in the
matter. A DEBORAH gentleman was dis
cussing the matter with me some time
ago. He said that nearly all of the
schools in the township were ready to
come in. He wanted to know whether
1t would be better to wait until all OF
them We're willing or to consolidate the
schools that Were already willing to
join their interests. l told him to
consolidate Immediately, by all means"
Mr.. Riggs will do all in his power TO
bring the new idea before the people
of Iowa in his public addresses, and
will inaugurate a propaganda for the
consolidated school.
Clidden News