The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-06-01


The United states bureau OF education
has for some years had under considera-
ton Tire question OF tho consolidation or
public schools and the transportation OF
pupils TO and from the schools after con-
solldation. In the report of the commits
sioner OF education for isoo-i9oi the sub
jcct is treated somewhat ut length. and
more fully In the report fc- 1900 and that
Tor isu1. From these reports IL appears
that the policy OF consolidating small
schools and transporting the more distant
pupils TO a central usually gradcd) school
at the public expense has been rcsorted
TO In twenty-five states to a greater or less
cxtcnt-aH follows: Connecticut. Florida.
Indiana. Iowa. Kansas, Maine. Massa-
chusctts. Michigan. Minnesota, Nebraska.
New Hampshire. New Jersey. New York.
North Dakota. Ohio. Pennsylvania. Rhode
Island, soIth Dakota. Vermont and Wis
consin. While the proposition may yet BIO
said TO be In the experimental stage. tho
consensus OF experience I'm these states
shows that a consolidation OF schools re-
suits In a saving OF money. In improved
sch oois and In more regular attendance.
Summarized. the following important adj
vantagcs are attained:
l. Consolidation and transportation de-
crcases the aggregate cost OF rural schools
or gives greater efficiency al the same
cost.
= SgcurrN 10 tue InshFuC-
ton, bstter buildings and equipment. and
longer periods for recitation.
J. insurcs closer supervision by officials
and stronger principals.
T. Conduccs 20 better health and morals.
g. Continues In school country maidcns
liable TO remain at home because OF vaga-
bond tramps or large bodies OF employed
men at certain localities.
C. Holds IN school youth advanced be-
yond the curriculum and discipline Of most
small schools.
Z. Relieves mother. anxious about their
girls and children OF tenuer years.
s. Eliminates truaney and diminlshcs ir-
regularity.
. 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
II. Awakens healthy rivalry through thu
inspiration OF numbers.
Il Makes compulsory attendance more
feasible and iustihabie.
One OF the most Important problems for
our rural communities has been how best
to secure the benefits OF n graded school
system 40 M TO enable the farmer TO give
his cniidrcn instruction In the higher
branches Of learning without leaving
the farm. The writer believes that the
policy OF consolida ton and transportation
Of pupils furnishes n soiuuon OF tho
UEpblFtu Nur poAtNg UEINFfAtu
The next and most important question n:
How can this be done: In what way. and
after what preparation. can perfect sys-
tenn be cstablishedf We are firmly Of tho
opinion that the system OF education out
lined and which means 80 much for the
country viii never he perfected and be-
come n fixed policy until there n 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. T.. Browniow OF Tennessee.
and In the senate by Mr.. Latimer OF South
Carolina. In hearings on the good roads
subject before the senate COMMITTEES on
agriculture II was shown that OF all the
roads In the United States there ars only
per cent good. 10 per cent. fairly pass
able and ~ per cent. bad: that II. stallers
OF teams In wet weather and the creators
OF insufrcrabie dust storms In dry weather.
Fifteen per cen; are roads, tina remainder
mere rights-of-way."
The one hundred and Attn anniver-
sary OF the death of the poet Cowper
was celebrated ut East Dcreham. Eng
land. April %. where memorial win
dow was unveiled In the parish church.
The center Hight contains full length
picture OF Cowper with hares reclining
at his feet. and representations OF his
sofa and writing desk whhah are In tho
possession OF man OF the neighbor-
hood.