The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-02
Roads, Christianity and Education.

The United States bureau of education
has for some years had under Considera-
ton the question Of the consolidation or
public schools and the transportation Of:
pupils to and from the schools after con-,
solidation. In the report of the commits
sioner of education for 190O-1SOl the sub
iect is treated somewhat at length. and
more fully in the report for 1902 and that
tor 1909. From these reports 1t appears
that the policy of consolidating small
schools and transporting the more distant
pupils to a central usually graded) school
at the public expense has been resorteu
to in twenty-five states to a greater or less
extent-as follows: Connecticut, Florida.
Indiana, Iowa. Kansas. Maine, Massa-
chusetts, Michigan, Minnesota. Nebraska,
New Hampshire, New Jersey. New York.
North Dakota, ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, South Dakota, Vermont and WIS
consin. While the proposition may yet be
said to be in the experimental stage, the
consensus of experience In these states
shows that a consolidation of schools re-
suits in a saving Of money, in improved
schools and in more regular attendance.
Summarized, the following important ad-
vantageS are attained:
!. Consolidation and transportation de-
creases the aggregate cost of rural schools
or gives greater efficiency at the same
cost.
2. Secures to the pupils better instruc-
ton, better buildings and equipment, and
longer periods for recitation.
3. Insures closer supervision by officials
and stronger principals.
4. ConduceS to better health and morals.
5. Continues in school country maidens
liable to remain at home because OF vaga,
bond tramps or large bodies Of employed
men at certain localities.
.. Holds In school youth advanced be-
yond the curriculum and discipline of most
small schools.
:. Relieves mothers anxious about their
girls and children of tender years.
S. Eliminates truanCy and diminishes IL
regularity.
9. Causes to attend many out of reach
of a school without transportation.
10 Enhances the value of the instruction.
because the larger the number of pupils
The fewer the grades per teacher, and the
more OF himself the teacher is enabled to
give to each pupil.
II. +Awakens healthy rivalry through the
inspiration of numbers.
y. Makes compulsory attendance more
feasible and iustitiable.
One of the most important problems for
our rural communities has been how best
to secure the benefits of a graded school
system SO as TO enable the farmer to give
his children instruction in the higher
branches of learning without leaving
the farm. The writer believes that the
policy of consolidation and transportation
of pupils furnishes a solu.lon of the
problem if the policy can be perfected.
The next and most important question is:
How can this be done: in what way, and
after what preparation. can a perfect sys-
tenn be established? We are firmly of the
opinion that the system of education put
lined and which means so much for the
country will never be perfected and be-
come a fixed policy until there is national
aid in the construction of good wagon
roads, say along the line Of the bills
introduced in the house of representatives
by Hon. W.. p. Brownlow of Tennessee,
and In the senate by Mr.. Latimer of South
Carolina. In hearings on the good roads
subject before the senate committee on
agriculture it was shown that of all the
roads In the United States there are only
3 per cent. good, 10 per cent. fairly pass
able and s. per cent. bad; that is, stallers
of teams in wet weather and the creators
of insufferable dust storms in dry weather.
Fifteen per cent are roads, the remainder
mere rights-of-way.'
The one hundred and fifth anniver-
sary of the death of the poet Cowper
was celebrated at East Dereham. Eng
land, April %, where a memorial Win
dow was unveiled in the parish church.
The center light contains a full length
picture of Cowper with hares reclining
at his feet. and representations of his
sofa and writing desk, which are in the
possession of a man Of the neighbour
hood.