The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-16
MUST IMPROVE
COUNTRY SCHOOL
1t Is OF Far Greater Importance
to the Welfare of the Nation
Than Is Realized.
CONDITIONS DEMAND 4
Competition on Every Hand Is Grad
ually Rising to the Point Where
the Country Boy or Girl Must
Be Given a Chance.

Be Given a Chance.
&c. Z. b, Battle Creek. Ia. in Farmer and
Breeder.
hi Improvement OF our country
schools at the present time is of far
greater Importance to the welfare of
the people and the nation than most
people realize.
When we see what great improve
inents have been made in all other
lines of industry within the past ten,
twenty. or even thirty years and then
think of What little Improvement has
been accomplished in the same period
OF time to the country schools we cam
not help but put some thought ON the
question.
We certainly appreciate the good that
has been derived from the little school
houses, scattered here and there over
the prairies which was accomplished
by the thoughtfulness and toll of our
forefathers. yet we believe that as
great an improvement can be made as
has been done with other problems.
h old fashioned spinning Wheel is
set aside because Il greater machine
has taken its place. Self-binders are
put into the place of the cradle and
Just so the district school is growing
out of date. 1t has served its purpose.
Conditions are becoming such that it
requires more knowledge to meet the
strusgle for e~Xistance successfully.
competition on every hand is gradu-
ally rising to a point where improve
ment of the district school is absolute
ly necessary in order that the young
men and women on the farm may be
more able to battle with the conflicts
that confront them in life successfully.
In Union There Is Strength.
We know that in union there is
strength; therefore. the most success
ful and economical way to improve the
district schools is TO combine the
schools in each township, forming a
consolidated system and transport the
pupils in carriages to and from school.
This Is not a mere theory but it Is a
system that has proven to be a great
benefit to the welfare of the people
wherever it has been tried.
Under the old system by which the
district schools are managed, any man
or woman may become n teacher with
comparatively little knowledge and
without regard to character. The
pupils are of various ages and in the
average school there are twenty or
thirty classes each day to recite. there
by allowing only on the average of
about ten minutes for each class to re-
cite when they ought to have from
thirty minutes to an hour.
Attendance is often very poor on ac-
u of weather and bad roads; or if
bad weather sets in during a school
day, the little folks must go home
through rain and storms, getting wet
n cold, Which results in various sick
nesses. Quarrels often arise on the
way to and from school and danger of
much unwholesome word and deeds.
Libraries Poorly Furnished.
Libraries in the district schools are
poorly furnished and in order that pa
rQNfQ NAV nYny-iIa n Iotta, a.
for their children they either send them
70 the city schools or move to town
themselves, generally resulting in the
children being educated away from the
farm instead of toward the farm. 9th
er parents that see the Consequences
come to the conclusion that Whenever
a child goes to the town schools, they
are no more good or the farm. there
fore many children are left in ignor-
ance to a certain extent and as moth
Ing ts taught them in the line of agri-
culture. the farm life to the boy or girl
and sooner or later hey leave their
parents and farm and seek the gaiety
Of city life, with generally poor results.
Where the consolidated system has
been adopted, the statistics SHOW that
from n point of view it is more
economical and successful and no COM
muntty having tried 1t thinks of going
back ito the old way.
In 1895 the township of Buffalo Cen
ter, Wtnnebago county, formed a con-
solidated system, employed eight teach
ers for nine months. II the average
daily attendance Of pupils in 1900 being
290, while in 1894 the township MAIN
tanned six district schools for six
months with an average daily attend
ance Of ninety pupils. The total ex-
penditure In 1894 for all school pur-
poses was $500 per pupil per month.
and for the year of 1900 it was but
1921. Not only has this centralized
system given children a graded school
OF well qualified teachers with a large
increase in attendance at much less
cost, but 1t has made the pupils more
punctual n has a tendency to keep
the larger pupils in school. In many
cases where families had heretofore
rented their farms and moved to town
in order that the children might have a
better education they have reoccupied
the farm and land is selling more read
fly at higher prices.
Ex-Governor Shaw lately stated IN a
messages: I'm several counties of the
state. people nave tried maintaining a
centralized school system, to and from
which pupils are conveyed in car
r1ages at public expense. Wherever
this plan has been adopted the results
have been most satisfactory. The en-
rollment has thereby increased and the
~ Aio1S Al 0SllCl
teachers ave been employed with cor
r~espondingly improved scholarship"
Some of the Results.
The results of consolidation of dis
trict achools may be summarized as
follows:
First-The country has outgrown the
district schools. leaving conditions such
that it demands a greater effort in
moral and mental culture for any great
success.
Second-Teachers are employed that
are better qualified, the younger pupils
placed under an Instructor especially
adapted to primary work, the older
ones under a specialist in higher work.
Third-Larger and more punctual
attendance. better classification and
scholarship, resulting in keener COM
petition and greater enthusiasm.
Fourth-Gives more time for recita-
tons. which develop greater thinking
powers.
Fifth-Better equipment of libraries,
light, heat, ventilation, conveyance In
carriages, which aids in keeping the
pupils In better health. The same car
riage may convey the older people to
their evening clubs and social gather
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