The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-04-15
CONSOLIDATE THE SCHOOLS
State superintendent Presents a Plan
for Consolidating the Rural

StdUc PRESENTS q IIal
for Consolidating the Rural
Schools.
Sioux Falls Argus-Leader: State
Superintendent H. A. Ustrud, of the
state department of education, is do.
ing good work in calling attention tt
the Importance of the Capitalization
of the rural schools of the state. He
has spent the better part of a year
gathering the facts, and these he has
assembled in a recently issued pham.
plet under the title "Consolidation oil
schools in South Dakota" The pam.
phlet is exceedingly interesting read
ing, and clearly points the way to a
great improvement in the rural
schools of the state at reduced cost
Of administration.
The plan is to abolish the small
o~ne-teacher country schools which is
attended by only a few pupils Of all
ages and grades, and to centralize
the educational effort of the township
in a graded school in each township,
to which the pupils are carried daily
In c-onyeyances at public expense, and
where the enthusiasm of numbers and
system are such as to bring the re-
suits. The plan has been worked out
successfully in many states, and Sup
erintendent Ustrud Is on the right
track in seeking to have the system
established in South Dakota.
This plan originated in Ohio in
1892, and 1t has been fully develop
I'd In that state. 1t was found in that
state that better rural schools could
he maintained at one central point
in a township, to which the pupils
were transported, at the general cost,
where the grades were followed, and
where systematic work was done In a
building we'll equipped, and with the
best of sanitary, and educational en-
vironmept. In such schools the at
tendance is o regular, the school
term IL longer, the cases of
hardness are fewer, and the general
grade of work done is better. In
other words 1t is a question of orga-
nization. and of focusing things,
which means always the biggest re-
suits from the least OF expense.
In Georgia, consolidation has been
accomplished in sixty counties with
the best of results. In Iowa the plan
r. being worked in one-half of the
counties of the state. Maine, Vermont
and Massachusetts, have the plan in
acual practice, while Of course in
Ohio 1t has become universally pop
ular. Indiana Is fast taking the lead
in Capitalization. From 1904 to
1908. about 700 schools were aband-
oned. the number abandoned up to
last year being 1914. There are now
418 consolidated schools in that state
which means that over 10000 rural
pupils are now being daily carried
by wagons to the central schools at
a. cost per wagon per day Of $1.87.
O~ne-teacher schools are fast disap-
pearing in Indiana and in a few years
the small, isolated rural school with
an underpaid teacher and a dozen pu-
pills will practically disappear.
~
There are plenty of advantages for
the consolidated school. Under this
plan, It ID easier to provide good
buildings. They are lighted, heat
ed. and ventilated better. The cost
Of maintenance is less. 1t costs less
to heat and repairs are less. The
gross expenditures for supplies, APP
paratus, and maintenance is SMALL
er. Better teachers can be secured
because better salaries can be paid.
Teachers are engaged for a longer
term. and being paid larger salaries,
better equipped teachers can be Sc
cured. Closer and better supervision
Is made possible, and the county sup
erintendent, having fewer schools to
visit, can work much more effective
~. There is less politics in school
administration. and fewer quarrels
There Is a longer term Of school
much more interest on the part Of
the pupils, more interest on the par
of the pupils, more enthusiasm in the
work. more systematic grading, bet
ter sanitary environment. a more
healthy social spirit in the district
and in short a more satisfactory gen.
eral condition in connection with
school administration.
Other states have made a great sue
cess Of the plan. and there is ne
doubt that South Dakota will have
an equally satisfactory experience
when the plan is put into effect here
We believe the state superintendent
Is doing a good work, and that he Il
entitled to the hearty support OF tn,
people In the promotion Of the prin
ciple Of school consolidation. 1t Il
.s--.-AN-..- 49,