Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-07
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ment in industrial and professional lines
In many rural communities there has been
a de-population so marked that only the
''old folks" remain, and rapid deprecia-
ton of farm values has followed. 1t is moi
at all surprising that one of the results OF
such constant exodus is a very greatly
| diminished attendance in the rural schools,
and corresponding increase in attendance
in the city schools. In my own county we
have at least dozen schools in which the
average daily attendance is not more than
five, and twenty or more in which the aver
age daily attendance is less than fifteen. In
some Of these schools the per capita cost Of
education is $40.
In school affairs as in all other kinds OF
business we must demand efficiency and
practice economy. Our schools must ac-
complish something; in short, must he eff
cient; and we must have due regard for
economy so as to relieve as much as posi-
BILE the heavily burdened taxpayer. Our
truly rural schools are not efficient. Why ?
For many reasons, but chiefly because we
cannot secure good teachers for them
Teachers, like other humans, want as large
wage for their labor as can be had. They
like also pleasant associations, creature
comforts, educational advantages, freedom
from wrestling with cranky stoves, exemp-
tion from welding brooms, dust cloths and
coal scuttles, and, hence, they flee to the
cities and towns, where they secure the
former things and ayoiG the latter. Our
truly rural schools are expensive. In some
of them the per capita cost per year, based
on average daily attendance, is from $40 to
$50. This cost is beyond all reason, and
is especially noticeable when contrasted
with that of the small towns, where fire.
quently the cost is not above So to S. per
pupil. and the results obtained are as much
greater.
Can these difficulties be overcome? May
we have efficient schools in our country
districts, and at reasonable cost The
States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetts, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska,
and Others have solved this problem by
consolidation of schools and transportation
of pupils, and the people of our own doughty
little State of New Jersey will do SO like
wise when thoroughly convinced as to the
expediency OF such radical proceeding. In
no other State have the lawmakers made
such liberal offer of assistance to COM
,nittees desiring to close small, inefficient,
expensive schools as in New Jersey. Let
me quote you from onr School Law, Sec
tion 1872, part 1, under Apportionment of
School Moneys by County Superintendent:
ssproyided furthtr that if any board of
education Of any school district shall pro-
vide proper means for the transportation of
pupils in accordance with the provisions
contained in this act, the County Super
intendent Of Schools, in making his next
apportionment and every apportionment
thereafter shall apportion to such district
the sum Of two hundred dollars for each
pensed with by reason of substituting
Transportation for the services of such teach
err so long as proper transportation shall be
provided" Let me give an illustration
from nv own county. A certain district
contains three school houses; in school
centrally located, four teachers are en-
ployed. In each Of the other schools one
teacher is employed. The board of educa-
ton has closed the two small schools and
transports the pupils to the central school
The central school has one more teacher
So long as the board provides proper trans
portation, two hundred dollars will be ap
portioned TO the district for each Of the
closed schools, and two hundred dollars for
the additional teacher in the central school.
The district has purchased two large vans,
capable Of seating twenty-five pupils each,
and has employed drivers placed under
bonds to perform their duties according to
contract. After the first cost is paid the
board will save the district three hundred
dollars the first year, and has much more
efficient system of schools. A well equip
ped high school being one Of the things
planned.
Some Of the reasons advanced for con-
solicitation Of schools and the conveyance Of
children may be briefly stated in abridged
form, as foliows:-
Diminished school population, rendering
the schools small and expensive, making it
dificult to obtain teachers for the wages
that can be paid.
The cost in some small schools Of five pn-
pills is $50 per pupil, while in schools Of 25
pupils the cost is only $40 per capita, or
less.
To secure efficiency and economy there
must be comfortable, convenient school
honsps necessary annlianees intelligent