The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-29

were read by Superintendents F. o.
Peale, 81 August; J. - NcIntgrg OF
Shenandoah. and John Y. Sebreu. of
Southampton. These papers were % the
same general tenor giving the exper-
icnCe ~ the writer's IN the work o. con-
soliciting. and all agreed that the plan
is working "to a charm in their ra-
spective districts.
ar. Poale said the first consolidation
in his district took place six years ago.
a four-room house being built and four
schools combined. To this school thev
are now hauling by comfortable wagons
sixty children per day. and tho enroll
ment IS 160. There are four competent
teachers in charge. and 80 has become a.
high school and IS IN n Furnishing con-
dltion. in all respects far superior 70
the four little schools from which it,
was made up Another consolidation Of
three schools and one room Of a third
has been made. and IS doing as well as
the other one named. A third notable
consolidated school has 200 scholars and
teachers Three wagons are used 90
carry scholars 70 and from this school
Mr. Peale says we find the attend
ance IS very much better az the con-
solidatel schools than 10 was at the
single schools. especially where the
scholars are hauled to and from the
school. our wagons ara large and roomy
and comfortable well curtained. and sup
piled with laprobes. We have careful
responsible drivers. whom We require u
look after the comfort and conduct of
the pupils The parents are well pleased
with tho transportation methods for. as
one man put It. 7 know where my boy Is
every minute from the time he leaves
home until he gets back"
Mr.. Peale says Il costs more to haul the
children 70 the consolidated schools. but
not as much more as one would naturally
think. In one case where four schools
We're consolidated and two wagons nun I'm
hauling the cost is $f5 more than
was the expense II the four schools
but says the superintendent. 'gt is
worth TO that section twice the cost un-
der the former system"
Mr. Peaie finds objection 20 consolila-
tion from many patrons. but he says the
advantages are 50 manifest this opposi-
ton is rapidly dying out
Mr.. Sebrells paper and his experience
in Southampton county was much the
same SIS MI. Peale had in Augusta. In the
place Of two two-roomed school hous S.
he now has a $4,000 building. with six
first-class teachers. and the work OF con-
solidating the twelve schools in his district
into four first-class ones is rapidly going
on He, too, uses the wagon Transport
tauon.
Mr. John II. Davis. OF Prince Edward
county spoke in the place OF Superinten-
dent l. d. Jones on this subject. and
told Of the consultations I'm the Lee Dis
trict OF his county. Mi Eggioston. WHO
had been called out on this subject. said
he was sure that If consolidation worked
well in that Qee) district. It would work
anywhere on the earth, or at least any
where in Virginia He would were ha "a
betting man. wager something valuable
that II the state Fair should next year
offer premium for the worst roads in the
state. Lee District would certainly walk
off with Il. The discussion took a wide
range and Mr.. Egglestou was asked many
questions. showing that an OF the super
int~ndents and hchers were greatly in
terested In the subject