Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-07


tion Of two districts. Four wagons are
used at cost Of $40, $25, $24, and $2S per
month, respectively, for month Of twenty
days. The school year is nine months.
Five teachers are employed in the building.
The testimony of the principal Of the school
the town clerk, and Mr.. Kinneer, of the
board Of education, was that there was an
actual saving in the total cost to the town
ship under the new plan; and while money
was expended for transportation of pupils
it was more than saved in the fewer NUM-
Der of schools operated. And as to the in
creased efficiency Of the new centralized
school over the scattered schools, that was
beyond question Of doubt.
It was here that the Ohio plan of central
ization had its origin in 1892. The erection
Of new building in one of the districts Of
Kingsville township brought up the ques-
tion whether it would not be better to
abandon the school in that district and
take the children to the village school at
the general expense. In this first case Of
consolidation in Ohio the schools were
centralized at the village school, village
situated about mile and half from the
railroad
The Kingsyille plan proved such a sue
cess that..on April II, 1896, the Ohio Legis-
lature passed bin for the relief Of other
counties, and afterward a general law per
mitting the people of any township at the
annual election to vote yes or mo" on
the proposition to centralize the schools Of
shat township, i. e., to abandon the small
districts and transport the children at pub
lie expense to the central school.
In the Arena for July, 1899, an artiels
telling of the success Of the Kingsville plan
was published, which I beg leave to quote
to you. To me it sets at rest any doubts |
may have had of the results of the plan Of
Capitalization and transportation.
ssThe residents of the sub-districts OF
Kingsville township which have adopted
this plan would deem it re-tr0gresslon So
20 back to the old sub-district plan. 1t
has given the school system of Kingsyille
an individuality which makes it unique
and progressive. Pupils from every part Of
the township enjoy graded school educa-
lion, whether they live ia the most re-
mote corner Of the township or at the very
dooi Of the central school. The line be-
tween the country-bred youth and the
village-bred youth is plotted out. They
study the same books, are competl!o for
she same honors, and engage in the same
sports and pastimes. I'll iningling OF tie
pupils from the sub-districts and the yil-
lage has had deepipg and broadening
effect on the former without any disadvan-
tage TO the latter With the grading OF the
school and the larger number OF pupils
have come teachers of more highly edu-
Gated class Higher branches of study are
taught; the teachers are more conseryant
with the needs of their prof ssion; the
salaries are higher; the health of she pu-
pills is preserved, beaaus5 they are not com
PEELED to walk to school in slush, SNOW, and
rain, to sit with damp and perhaps wet fee'
in ill-ventiIlated buildings. Nor is there
any lounging by the wayside. AS she use
Of indecent and obscene language is pros
Inhibited in the wagons, all opportunities
for quarreling or improper conduct on the
way to and from the school are removed
The attendance is larger, and in the sui
districts which have taken advantage OF the
plan it has increased from so to $50 pc
cent. in some cases; truancY is unknown.
Ii has heightened the school year for a
number Of the sub-districts; it has iDcreas-
ed the demands for farms in those sub
which have adopted the plan, and
real estate therein is reported more salabi !.
All parts Of the township have been brought
into closer bouch aud sympathy. The COST
of maintenance is less than that OF Q
schools under the sub-district plan; the
township has had no school houses To
build; it has paid less for fuel and repairs
Since the schools were consolidated the Incl
dental expenses have decreased from $500
to $1,000 per year to from $400 to $500 per
year In the first three years following
the adoption Of the Klngsvilie plan the
township actually saved $1,000.
Ii conclusion, let me state that wherever
Of schools and transportation
Of pupils has been intelligently introduced
and carried on in a common sense way, it
has been highly successful, and has solved
the difficulties for which it was devised In
most places its introduction has met with
the bitterest opposition, but after fair
trial it has silenced every objection.
would advise boards of education be-
fore attempting to try this method to ac-
quaint themselves with every detail Of it's
workings as exemplified in some places
where it has been in successful operation