The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-11-14

than proportionately higher. Tardl-
ness. as in all these centralized
schools, is unknown. The drivers are
under contract to bring their loads OF
children 70 school in time, and the
children soon learn to be ready tor
The wagon.
These wagons are generally long
hacks or barges, with seaAs along the
sides. The law requires that they be
provided with curtains for stormy
weather, with Lap robes and hot soap
stones.
THE drivers must be responsible
persons. Each driver has special
route, and though, of course, some
children may have longer ride than
their souls really crave, this is of
set by the fact that nobody has to
tramp through rain, mud, slush on
snow and then sit in school with wet
feet and clothing.
In townships like Green, where
there is no village Or town lite, this
central school life is an element OF
almost incalculaIble power. It brings
about friendships which, unite the
scattered families iof the district.
It raises the standard of intelli-
gence. Itgives the boys wholesome
and hitherto impossible knowledge Of
SPORT, for on the campus baseball,
football and other athletic games are
played.
Even special teachers in music, ma
ture study and drawing make regular
visits to these centralized schools
whose pupils a few years ago were
wrestling rudely with Mamie Smith
and "a limited acquaintance with the
three Rs.
In Massachusetts, with its network
lof trolleys, Capitalization has been
growing easier every year. Country
, children living within a reasonable
distance of trolley line-and 1t is
comparatively small proportion which,
does not live near one nowadays-re-
ceive trolley tickets from the school
authorities and go back and forth on
the ubiquitous electric car.
These tickets are furnished the
school authorities at half rates, and
eadh child gets two day: If the par
ents wish to have child come home
| for luncheon they can have two ex-
ira tickets day by paying another
five cents themselves; or the children
carry luncheon witla them.
Almost invariably the new method
results in a saving to the township.
In New Hampshire, ont of 124 towns
only one reported an increased cost,
while 26 out of the number give the
present cost, including conveyance Of
the children, as only one-half what 1T
used to be under THE crossroads
school system.
This is easy to understand, and
when one realizes that in New York
state there are about 5000 school dis
tricts with an average attendance of
less than 10 pupils. There are some
which report an average attendance OF
three quarters of a pupil.
In an Ohio county, close to the
Green township paradise of central1z-
ed schools. some inspecting visitors
stopped at a district schoolhouse in a
township, paradise of centralized
method. They found small building,
no shade trees, ,antiquated furniture,
primitive ventilation and sanitary az
rangements, in fact, the typical coun-
trv school of sentimental poetry
And in this battered institution OF
learning exactly four children were
pursuing knowledge. The teacher
was getting $50 a month to teach four
pupils.
# she was above the grade of the
ordinary country school teacher, as
the amount of her salary would in
dicate, it may have been edifying for
the lonesome quartette, though not