The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-01-29
Consolidating Rural Schools.

! On this subject Mr.. J. Montgomery
Gambrill, in an article in the Baltimore
Sun says:
| THE solution of the rural school prob
| lem is found in consolidation, by which
| it is possible to substitute for small, i'll
equipped, inefficient schools catered over
a large area a few strong, well-equipped,
! centrally located schools of the best urban
type, to which children from Il distance
! are conveyed at public expense. Although
stubbornly opposed at first (what re-
form has not becn:l the plan has steadily
won its way, and is now provided for by
law in Is of our states-Maine, New
Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana,
Wisconsin. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska,
North Dakota. South Dakota and
Florida. Moreover, so far as the senli-
ments OF the people have been ascertained
and published, it is found that in no
case where the plan has been adopted
would the people want to return to the
old system. Under these circumstances
it is difficult to see how the system can
be called a 'Utopian dream lit has been
so styled in Maryland) Nearly 10 years
Rhode Island, said that it has passed the
experimental stage and become recog-
nized and advocated as one of the best
schemes of modern times, and tie same
thing has been said, after practical en-
pericnce, many times since.
only a few specific examples Of the
hundreds available can he given here. In
1902, without explicit warrant in the
State law. and after bitter fight before
the Board of Education, three small dis
tricts i'll Durham county, North Caro-
lima, were consolidated. The results are
stated in an article in the Atlantic Edu
cational Journal, Richmond, Na,) of
January, 1908: Little bowels replaced
by beautiful new school house, average
daily attendance doubled, efficiency of
the work enormously increased, the pass
ing of opposition and the awakening Of
a hitherto unknown enthusiasm for edu
cation. Extensive experiments have been
made Ill Ohio. AS an example of the
popular attitude, the people OF one town
ship voted bonds to build an eight-rn0ui,
steam-heatcd, brick building with ever,
modern convenience and this building
was for the children of a farming district
of % square miles, remote from railroads
or towns. State Commissioner Corsun.
of Ohio, reported in 1896: The expense
of schooling the children has been re
duced nearly one-half the daily attend
ance has been very largely increased AN ]
the quality of the work done has been
greatly improved. superintendent
Adams, of Lake county, Ohio, personally
observed the following advantages: a
larger percentage of children of school
age enrolled; hardness ceased and ir-
regular attendance reduced; pupils were
better classified; colds and other diseases
from wet clothing and wet feet disappear
ed; pupils were under the care OF RESPONSE
BILE persons from the time ofleaving home
until their return, and improper conduct
between home and school thus ceased;
better school rooms, better supplied with
apparatus, better heated, lighted, yenti.
lated, etc, the interest. enthusiasm and
confidence attended on larger classes were
gained: better teachers and more thor.
ough supervision secured; much more
economical (per capita cost reduced from
SIC to $1O.4S a similar summary ap-
pears in the Texas School Journal for
February, 1908, which adds a few
points of interest, and another in
the Outlook of December. 1902,
which mentions the opening of a high
school course to rural pupils. These two
summaries are not based on results i'll
any one State, but on those in all States
that have adopted the plan.
For plan of offering so many adj
vantages people would surely I've willing
to pay more money, but as Il matter of
fact this is not necessary, for the cost of
maintenance is nearly always reduced
Quotations to show this haze been made