The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-07-04


Is the little red schoolhouse doomed
win the district school. In which 50
many OF our leading men received their
early education, cease 10 exist In HI
noss7 Yes, If the plans OF Dean Das,
export. Superintendent Bayiiss. and
other leading educators Of the state
are carried out as expected. These
men declare that the district school,
with one teacher. poorly paid and IRE
quentIy 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
70 an education as the city bog or girl
What Is more to the point they de-
clare It Is possible. at no Increase Of
expense. or at the most OF a very
slight increase. to give % every rural
community as good educational advant
ages as possessed BY any city In the
State.
The remedy proposed Is simple. Jet
decidedly efficient. as demonstrated IN
other States II lies 10 consolidating
several weak districts In one strong.
Vigorous school. hiring competent teach
ers at living wages. and transporting
the children 70 and from the centrally
located school In wagons A very sim
pie procedure. certainly. but one which.
declare the friends Of the system. viii
revoIutIonlze the educational affairs OF
the State.
Need of Remedy Admitted.
The need OF a remedy for existing
conditions has long been known 70 ed
ucators. Years ago II was realized by
those who studied conditions that the
district school had failed to live up TO
It's standard of years ago. but a rem
edy was slow to develop. Consollda-
ton. as pracficed Ia twenty States OF
the Union. Is believed By all who have
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
10 Is years. can now barely muster n
scant half dozen. none Of them oyer II
years OF nge-
Dean Eugene Davenport OF the Tlu-
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 IL en-
firely inadequate to the needs OF the
country child:
In 1880 the enrolment OF the I'M
graded or common country school was
AR. 20: In 1890, 37s.1G0: In 1000. 34g.-
OFT: in 1904, 31s,21s. a decrease In
twenty-four years of ff9.oo2. In the
same time the attendance of the grad
Ell school advanced from 2Gs.s2f to
sec. 1886. The number Of country schools
In 1880 was 1898 and In 1904 f0G77.
while the number OF teachers decreased
from 17.347 to 1927. The decrease In
the number of schools liz but 2Js. while
the decrease In teachers Ia $3.50. This
Is accounted for. says Dean Davenport,
Ia the fact that In 1880 IL was custom
arr for the summer session Of the rural
school TO be presided over by a 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
sre teacher, and unfortunately 1t Is the
more able one who has disappeared Ia
sonie other occupation.
In the same period the number Of
graded school teachers has advanced
traw d.1N8 to 15.17A and the high