Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-08
Consolidation in Rural Districts
of Illinois is Going on
Apace.
THOUGH LAW DISCOURAGEs
Five Counties Under System Now and
Dozen Others Ready to Take
Matter Up.

school consolidation in Illinois was We
toed by Governor Yates, consolidation
is making slow but steady progress,
with indications that the system will
be generally adopted in a few years At
present five counties are working I'M
der the system. with a dozen others
ready to take the matter up this win
te.
The right to consolidate schools and
transport children to and from them at
public expense was secured by a lib
eral Interpretation of the old school
law by Superintendent Bayliss. who
held that. since such measures were
not prohibited. they were not illegal.
Though suits have been threatened in
several counties by enemies of the
measure. actual trouble never has de-
yeloped
Population Has Decreased.
The necessity of consolidating dis
trict schools has been brought about
by the decrease in rural population.
Since 1870 there has been a steady
stream of immigration from the farms
to the cities Many schools which so
years ago enrolled a score of pupils
now have less than five names on their
rosters. The schools in nearly every
farming community have felt the de
crease, and, unless some measure is
adopted for the uniting of these lean
districts. many of them will be COM
PEELED to close their schools In fact
in number of districts this already
has been done. at some points lack of
attendance having prevented the hold
ing of school for several years.
Few Pupils in Many Schools.
Superintendent of Schools Bayliss in
his last report says that in district
schools in Illinois 1.150 of them had
less than 3 pupils. 525 fewer than 10
pupils, and % less than pupils. Fig
uring the cost of a teacher at $40 i
month and other expenses. such as
fuel. etc. at $50. the total for a 1Ol
months school is S4GO, or $92 per pupil
per year in a five pupil school
From these figures" says Dean |
Davenport, 1T is evident that largely |
due TO the emigration of the more ad- |
vanced pupils TO the city schools. the
county schools are growing not only
smaller and less efficient. but relative |
" more costly. These conditions have |
come upon us gradually. but are now |
firmly fixed There is but one remedy, /
the collection of pupils together into
larger groups by means of transports |
ton.
Township the Unit.
by consolidation of schools is |
meant the uniting OF two. three, or |
more small and weak schools into one Il
that shall be strong enough in the way 4
of money to afford a comfortable II
building. two or more good teachers.
and reasonable facilities for work II
also means that outlying territory with
but few children shall be combined i
with a nearby school that is strong. II
rather than be organized into an indie
pendent but weak district. In its FULL
est sense it means the uniting of all
the schools of township into one or
two so located as to be most access
Ible
Either in full or in part it means
the transportation of a portion of the
pupils, and that is one of the prob
ems. II is generally accomplished in Il
covered wagons. articfcially warmed,
holding 10 to 20 children and driven by
reliable men under contract and bonds
IS to regularity and good behavior. At
first thought this would seem expen-
;ive, but experience has shown that it
s cheaper to transport children than
% establish a school for them. because
wagon is cheaper than a schoolhouse,
lOrses cheaper than fuel. and drivers
,ost less than school teachers"
Cost of Transporting Children.
Consolidation commenced in Massa-
.husetts in 1874 and is now in opera
ion in 90 states. In Massachusetts it
has. according to the report of the SUI
of schools, saved each 1
ownship where il is in vogue 5000
,early. Ii that state 65 per cent of the
ownships have adopted the plan. the
tate spending in 1902 S151,773 for
transportation OF children.
Iowa reports that consolidation has
jeen adopted in GO districts of rs
counties and transportation in so dis
riots of 35 counties. Indiana has 1S1
wagons transporting 1859 children in
Il counties. the largest number being
n La Grange county, where 90 wagons
AIRY 300 children daily, and Whitley
county, where 73 wagons carry Lila
children. In La Grange county the
-early saving by transportation is So
SO. In Ohio the plan is followed in
3 townships in 20 counties. and is be-
ng rapidly extended.
The cost of transportation is remark
bly low In Iowa the drivers are paid
rom S25 to $50 a month and furnish
cam. covered wagon. robes. etc. One
nan hauls from IS to 30 children. so
hat the expense per child per month
anges from S1.50 TO $500.
Anthony Homestead Burns.
Adams. Mass, Dec S.-The Susan B. II
anthony house was destroyed by fire