Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1904-01-22
CENTRAL SCHOOL QUESTION.
State Supt. Nash and Mfnneha-
ha School Officers Discuss
the Capitalization
OF Schools.

CoutI6jlZaClOu IL tuICAly 1ooAoN ~A1
tricts, but said he had grave doubts Of
the practicability of the plan In many
of the less densely populated commun'
tiles. He spoke strongly in favor Of
higher wages for teachers and said
that most of the teachers were simply
doing this work until they could gel
married or find some more lucrative
employment. He was of the opinion
that the matter of expense should no,
be 90 much considered il the pupils Of
the country schools could be given an
equal opportunity with those of the
cities. and If this could be done by cen
tralization, he was in favor of it.
Mr.. Vandemark in discussion,
thought the time was not yet ripe fol-
Capitalization. Believed our present
system is good. He resented the i'm
putation that teachers are not paid
we'll. Said that he knew of one dis.
trict, which formerly paid it's teacher
a salary Of $25 per month, which was
now paying $50. He thought that this
was fair rate of increase for the past
few years, especially as in many Of the
thickly settled eastern states they are
paying but $28.
Mr. Hart was in favor of providing
facilities for education for the country
children without the necessity of send.
ing them to town away from home
and where influences might not be of
the best. Thought the central schools
would accomplish this.
Mr.. Ustrud then introduced State
G.. W. NASH.
who took up the topic of centraliza-
ton where it was left off. Mr. Nash
while not taking radical view, spoke
in favor of Capitalization. He
said in part:
"Sou,h Dakota can we'll afford at
this time to experiment with the cen.
tralized school for the benefit of its
school children. 1t has already been
proven success in parts of South Da.
kota. in Iowa and North Dakota, and
in Nebraska These are
western states without congestion of
urge on the people of
South Dakota an equalization of edu.
cstional opportunity and in order to
give the children of the country equal
with those of the cities, I
wish to appeal for better schools for
them.
"The idea Of the rural central school
ls not new. More than thirty years
ago it was put into practical operation
in Massachusetts. About ten years ago
the movement struck Ohio and in
thirty or forty Of the counties of that
state it is now an established fact. In
portions of Nebraska they have over
come one difficulty by building resi-
dences for the teachers near the CEN
trail school.
In Buffalo center in Iowa, where
the rural central school is in opera.
tion. the records of the township show
that The cost OF maintaining the
schools is no higher than the average,
and is lower than many. I learn with
pleasure that No. 1873, in this county,
is consolidated distric', and that it
ls the best school in your county. If
. teacher has to handle eight grades,
even though there be but one or two
In the class, she cannot do good work.
It these grades were reduced to four
for each teacher, much better work
would be done, and by having more in
q class there would be 8 stronger in.
centive to the pupils to progress. If it
is not possible to have q graded cen.
tral school. believe that the schools
should be consolidated as much as pos.
sible under one teacher, if need be.
THE question of transportation is
serious one. Drivers should be re.
quired te enter into a contract to gath.
or the children. either from the homes
or convenient gathering places, posi-
bly, in the old school houses. and de.
liver them at the school in time. This
would eliminate tardiness. They
should provide a covered rig to keep
children dry in wet weather and warm
in the winter, with plenty of robes and
foot warmers in cold weather.
AT Clear Lake, in Deuel. county, six
districts have consolidated and a $780,
600 building will be erected New
school houses cannot in all cases be
built, but it would be much better than
the present plan to have four of the
school houses now in use in as many
districts moved to one location and q
teacher in each suiled to the grades
under her. The primary pupils could
occupy one of the buildings, the inter-
mediate another, and 80 on. This
would keep the boys and girls at home
in the country. There should not be
a country class and city class in our
land. We want but one class, and the
Capitalization of the education of the
country pupils without going away
from home at tender age.
Mr. Nash discussed q number of
other topics of interest to school Off