Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-01-15

many of our leading men received their
early education, cease to exist In III
nois? Yes, if the plans of Dean Dav-
export, superintendent Bayliss, and
other leading educators OF the State
are carried out as expected. These
men declare thar the district school,
with one teacher, poorly paid and fire.
quently inefficient, often with less than
five pupils, cannot meet the educational
requirements of to-day. They say that
the farmers child has the same right
TO an education as the city boy or girl.
What is more TO the point. they de-
clare it is possible, at no increase of
expense, or at the most Of very
slight increase, to give to every rural
community as good educational advant-
ages as possessed by any city In the
State.
The remedy proposed Is simple, yet
decidedly efficient, as demonstrated in
other States. 1t lies in consolidating
several weak districts in one strong
vigorous school, hiring competent teach
ers at living wages, and transporting
the children to and from the centrally
located school in wagons. A very sim
ole procedure, certainly, but one which,
declare the friends of the system, VIII
revolutionize the educational affairs of
the State.
Need of Remedy Admitted.
The need of a remedy for existing
conditions has long been known to ed
ucators. Years ago it was realized by
those who studied conditions that the
district school had failed to live up to
It's standard of years ago. but rem
edy was slow to develop. ConsoIida-
ton, as practiced in twenty States of
the Union, is believed by all who have
a knowledge of the facts to be the one
solution Of the problem.
The district school has been on the
wane since 1870 Despite the enormous
growth in population in the past thirty.
six years the district school has shown
constant decrease In attendance
Schools which formerly had several
score enrolled, of ages ranging from {
to % years, can now barely muster \
scant half dozen. none of them over Il
years OF age. 3
Dear Eugene Davenport of the Ill
nois College Of Agriculture who has
studied the situation carefully, gives
the following facts concerning the
schools of the State, as proving con,
clusively that the district school is en-.
tirely inadequate to the needs OF the
country child:
In 1880 the enrolment Of the Nm,
graded or common country school was
4S7, 220; in 1890, 3TS160; In 1900. 346.
037: in 1904. 31S,21S, a decrease in
twenty-four years Of 119,002. In the
same time the attendance of the grad.
ed school advanced from 266. SCI r.
$50. 1856. The number of country schools
In 1850 was 1888 and in 1904 1857
while the number of teachers decreased
from 1891 to 12.29T. The decrease in
the number of schools is but 256. while
the decrease in teachers is $3.50. This
4 accounted for. says Dean Davenport
la the fact that in 1880 it was custom
ary for the summer session of the rura
school TO be presided over by q young
inexperienced teacher, usually girl
and the winter session was taught BY
an older and more seasoned pedagogue
Now the entire session is taught BY
enc teacher, and unfortunately it is tn,
more able one who has disappeared II
some other occupation.
In the same period the number Of
graded school teachers has advance,
from 1905 TO 1914. and the higl
school teachers from 140 to 1911. Tn,
nu.aoer of graded schools has increased
from 1881 to 2.2lS and the high school:
from ITO TO 406.
Cost Per Pupil STA I'm 1850.
In 1880 the cost per pupil enrolled II
the ungraded school was STA. In 100
1t mad grown to $3.50. and the Qualitj
of tie teaching had in the meantiln,
seriously deteriorated. In the graded
and high school the cost per pupil al
vanced from S11-26 TO S14S1. but one
third more than the cost of the mer.
elementary training received In the un
graded school,
The wages paid for the male IN tn,
ungraded schools in 1890 averaged Sla
per year and S257 In 1904. For tn,
female the average wage in 1890 wa.
$t76 and $40 in 1904 In the sam,
period the average for the graded schoo
female teacher was S4ST in 1890 ant
5000 in 1904 For the male II was SIS
In 1890 and $3.50 In 1904. In 1860 WON
en- teachers In ungraded schools worked
for as little wages as 81 per month. II
1904 the lowest wage paid was SIS.
so you see,' said Dean Davenport
''the country school is IN serious pre-
dicament. Unless something Is don
shortly, many OF them must go to tn
wal. Indeed, In number Of district