Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-04
CONSOLIDATION
OF THE SCHOOLS
STATE SUPERINTENDENT RIGGS
SAYS HE is NOT TRYING TO
FORCE PLAN.
Will Not Insist on Any Community
Adopting His Pet Scheme Unless 1t
is Agreeable to the Patrons of the
Schools Affected.
[BY LEON BROWN
Des Moines Bureau Of the Courier.
Des MoineS. lime !


Des Moines Bureau of the Courier.
Des Moines, June 1.
State Superintendent Riggs went to
Greene county today to visit with the
authorities of Dawson township upon
their invitation for conference with
respect to rural school consolidation.
Before leaving, he said that above all
things he wished it understood that
he was not trying to force school con-
solidation upon districts which are dis
posed against it. He is not using the
power of his office toward that end.
despite his great personal interest in
the idea and his loyalty to the propo-
sition.
A practical man in Wayne county
recently wrote to the superintendent
in an open letter published in a news
paper and copy of which he mailed
to Mr.. Riggs, questioning the advis-
ability OF school district consultations
and insisting that the superintendent
had no right to be forcing this policy
on the people of the state.
81 am engaging in no campaign to
force the idea on the people of the
state" said Mr.. Riggs. 81 believe in
it thoroughly but am not using my
office to convince school authorities
against their will Their are no coun-
ty movements toward consolidation,
that | know of. The visit which
am about to make to Greene county
was advertised in some of the ncwspa-
pers as being undertaken with a view
to inducing the schools of the county
to consolidate; this is not the case. l
am going up there at the invitation OF
the authorities of a single township
to discuss the matter of their schools
consolidating. l hope that something
definite will be achieved there, as
there was in the three districts now
permanently allied to Albion, Marshall
county where the country boy and girl
have just as good chance for an edu-
cation as has the city boy or girl. But
if the people up there do not want
school consolidation, | am sure shall
not urge it upon them"
Effect on Social Life.
One of the arguments which has
been used against the school consoli-
dalton proposition is that it will de-
stroy certain centers of social and
church activity and life in the rural
districts.
".That is hardly the fact" said Sup.
erintendent Riggs today. "The mile
which surrounds rural school house
is by no means the radius of a social
or church center. The fact is that in
auences of that character in rural life
extend to a much larger circle. The
township more often is the social and
church center than the singlN school
house as now constituted. Social gath
erings, church services and general pp-
litical meetings are more often held
in the central school house of the
township than in the mere restricted
district school house. 1 should say
that the social life of the rural COM
munity would be broadened and ex-
banded rather than restricted by the
school district consolidation and the
maintenance of commodious central
school buildings with assembly rooms.
ETC."
This fact will appeal to every person
who has ever lived in the country. In
almost every township there is build
ing known as the center school
house 1t is here that the general
community meetings are held, social,
religious, political and other kinds.
The spelling bees are held here and
the Sunday school and here are or
| ganized those marvellous dinner par
ties which meet on the lawn in the
summer evenings and consume barn
| yard full of fowl.
Ministers Are Liberal-Minded.
The liberality of the present day
church could hardly be better illus
trated than in this city where the
members of the Ministerial associa-
ton composed of all of the church pas
tors OF the city is busily engaged in
arranging a picnic to be held at one
| of the parks of Des Moines in honor
of Methodist minister who is about
to depart for ST. Louis where he will
assume the pastorate, not of Meth
church.
DIR. Lewis T. Guild of the Grace
Methodist Episcopal church of Des
Moines is the. man. He baked on the
five year rule of the Methodist govern
ment and decided to enter another de-
nomination where he might build up
a church and give his life to one peo-
4 pie and their spiritual education, as
well as his own development in a
single field where his energies would
not be Slapped by the mere matter of
getting acquainted with the people.
All of the preachers of the city and
their wives will join in the picnic to
be given next Monday evening.
There always has been decided liber-
atty among the pastors of this city
more it is thought than in the aver
age community. Nevertheless neith-
er the Catholic, the Unitarian nor the
| Hebrews cannot become members of