Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-05-26
Centra1izing Schools

Is attracting much attention at the
present time, and, Judging from the
way this system, or method, of hand
ling the rural schools is spreading, is
likely to receive much greater attention
from now on. AS many of our readers
are wholly un~acquainted with the
workings or possibilities of this system,
and a number of inquiries have reached
us recently concerning it, we give some
conclusions reached and published in a
report upon this matter by the college
of agriculture at the Illinois State Uni
versity. The following is a synopsis Of
the report:
/ 1t is much cheaper for the same
grade of school.
2 At the same expense much better
schools can be provided, because fewer
teachers being needed, a better grade
car be secured; a better division of
LABOR is established, and better super
vision is possible.
3 1t makes possible a country school
equal in every sense to the best city
schools, yet within the reach of farm
homes. No other system has been tried
or even proposed that can accomplish
this or guarantee to the country child
the same educational advantages as are
afforded the city child without taking
him out of his home and to the city;
or what is the same thing, preserve
intact the virility Of country life.
4 The health of the children is bet
ter when conveyed in wagons and
landed warm and dry han when sit
ting all day with wet feet and draggled
clothing after tramping through all
kinds of weather.
5 Children are protected from the
danger of those offenses to decency and
good morals, so common on the road
going to and from school.
6 The number who will attend
school is found to be larger when child
rem are conveyed; the attendance is
more regular and hardness is unknown.
z The health is noticably better,
especially as regards colds.
8 The inspiration that comes with
numbers puts life into the school that
is impossible in classes of one or two
each. 1t also initiates against that
self consciousness due to lack of associ-
alton so often noticeable in the country
children.
8 The teachers feel and exhibit
effect of contact with other teachers a
condition in marked contrast with that
of one working alone month after
month with no companionship but hat
of the children.
10 1t makes possible the employment
of at least one experienced well edu-
Gated and broad-minded teacher, under
whose supervision v young and
inexperienced teachers covering fewer
things will do far better than when
working alone trying to teach every
thing.
IL This makes possible the conduct
of a school with the proper regard to
the industries and professions in life,
and it is the only way in which agricul-
ture, nature study and household science
can ever be generally introduced into
the country schools.
IL 1t equalizes the cost of schooling
making 1t no more per capita for an
outlying, thinly populated district than
for any other.
10 1t increases property values as a
whole for those who care to sell and il
broadens life for those who stay.
IA Ii eliminates il~literacy on the one
hand and on the other the false views of
city life so commonly imbibed by school
children, thus rationalizing the emf
grafton from country to city.
10 1t makes unnecessary the sending
of young boys and girls away from
home for high school privileges on the
one hand, or the breaking up of homes
on the other, in going to town to edu-
cate the children"