Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-04-30
enjoyed by the few.

Il ~
Agriculture, whose special husipess
at is 10 visit rural schools in various
sections OF the country and report as
| 10 The methods in use aud tue results
our stenographer the general results
OF his observations Ia the central z d
school Ia Indiana, which dictation We
coGden e, as follows:
i Th s. schools are located as nearly as
possible Ia the center OF the township
which. ike most OF the townshlps In
the western couutry under con-
gressional survey, are SIX miles
tsQaare. The townships that nave the
most advanced type of consolidated
schools are located Ia sections where
and is wJrth from seventy dve to oae
hundi ed and lwenty five dollars al
acre. A reasonable tax levy on lands
vi this quality gives abundant funds
for conducting consolidated schools.
Ine farms average one hundred and
sixty acr>s, and the levy for school
purposes is from niue to fifteen miti :.
| These schools as organized provide
al elementary course of eight years
and high school course of four. Some
of these townships even provide u
two-years' kiouerg arten course, ali at
public expense. This brings hlgA
school advantages TO every farm home
In the township, enables tie farm BOY
and girl 10 lit themselves for college
or have as good au education as the
boy and girl in the city,
| The attendance at these schools
ranges from two hu uadred ana fifty to
four hundl ed pupils from five 10 twenty
years of age. The wages paid to
teachers are higher than In the dis
trict school, for the reason that the
township employs a smaller number
OF teachers and must be careful in
I their selection. The teaching force con-
sists OF principal or superintendent,
an assistant, and four teachers in the
grades A number Of the more pre-
gressive schools employ special
teaeher in home ecoaomlcs and sew
ing, and a teacher for general science
and agriculture. They employ only
,ssfsssnal school or college graduates
AT several points experimental agri-
| cultural work is being taken up. The
plot best suited to the purpose seems
10 be about ten acres, and there are
some very nice school ga dens. Tnese
are worked by the pupils until the
close OF the school year and then must
be carried on by hired Lelp. A mum Der
| of high schools have so arranged their
course that the last two years are
largely elective studies, and the boy
or girl may elect agricultural studies
and home economics over foreign
languages, literature, etc. These
schools turn many pupils TO the col
leges aud some of them TO the agricul-
tnrai college. The princip pal or superin-
! tendent Is usually "a sort Of local
leader. He generally arranges for
series of lyceum lectures, and, If pos.
sible, drafts into service any noted man
who may come into the nelghDorhood.
| The schools have commodious assembly
rooms, which are used for ali sorts oil
entertainments and public exercises.
These schools are nicely built, with
modern sanitary appliances, one school
even having gymnasium in the base
nent and shower baths.
| These schools are sldom established
10 any township without controversy,
sometimes lasting over a number of
years. The people, however, finally set
tie down to The opinion that 1t is better
to have one good school in the town
ship than dozen ordinary ones. Our
informant says that no district in
Indiana has, after trial, expressed dis
satisfaction.
| The children are carried to school
at public cost in conyeyances belonging
to the township, the entire outfit be-
| lug oCue W tuc DldChSLuihl cHOp tCf
overhauling once or twice year. The
drivers are paid on an average two
dollars day. In most OF the town
ships the driver calls for the children
at stated time each day.
There is no politics Ia the selection
of teachers. The township boards are
generally made up OF the best men iD
the township, irrespe Give of party
affiliation. la Indiana, as else here,
some teachers take deep interest in
agricultural matters, while others
show indifference.
We give this outline, not because
we are prepared to advocate the adop-
tion of this system in all our territory
BUT simply that our readers may have
reliable Information on the general
topic, which will be more thoroughly
discussed in the future than 1t has
been In the past. This.sy stem has not
yet been established long enough to
enable us TO decide whether it will tend
to keep farmers from moving to town.
1t will at least take away the excuse