The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-28
CONSOLIDATION
OF THE SCHOOLS
(Continued From First Page3

VI HILL UOuOVIO
I CONTINUED From First Page3
that good schools do not necessarily
follow good ROADS. With the excap-
ition OF Augusta county, Virginia. which
was pioneer III the matter OF public
Transportation, and ono or two other
counties, the counties liz Virginia which
have the best roads, have schools
which are below the average In quality
land above the average In quantity.
Experience and observation have shown
also that good roads do follow good
schools, and that the consolidation OF
schools brings to bear on the county
authorities great pressure for the Inn
provement of the roads leading to such
Hchools. say to you frankly tfat X
we walt In the South for good roads
before beginning movement for con-
solidatioi. and public transportation, we
will maketa fatal mistake. There are
hundreds OF schools In Virginia, and
thousands Of SCHOOLS In tho South. that
can and should BIO consolidated who ther
the roads are improved or not. My
advice. therefore, to my fellow workers
~ to go ahead an not walt for that
miiiennial period when we shall have
good roads everywhere. UP in Virginia
we pay no attention whatever to this
school man breaches good schools and
good roads, and am glad TO add that
the number OF good roads men who
preach good roads and good schools
liz increasing.
How did we begin in order TO get
the people into frame Of mind fay-
orabie to consultations In two ways:
BY having laws enacted that fave en-
! courased consolidation, and by com
mi tYrn Mt adj ftf,yS ~ n
pie from an attitude OF hostility to an
attitude OF sympathy. ] may add that
I'VE did not walt to get the whole State
or whole county or a whole district
into favorable attitude befor. begin
ming. We picked out communities
whero we believed consolidation would
be OF benefit, and then proceeded to
reason with the people OF these COM
munitifs The movement In now well
under way and we<fnd It less and less
difficult zach year to bring the people
Ito see the beneft to be derived. There
are still hundreds OF communities that
would strenuously oppose such a move
ment. but there are dozens and scores
OF communities with en- open mind on
the subject, which two or three years
hack were earnestly opposed to It, In
fact 1t Is not infrequent that communi,
ties initiate movements for consolida-
ton. and call upon the school author
ities TO come and show them how 10
begin.
The two greatest laws for the en-
.courasement OF consolidation have been
the Mann High School Act and the Will
liams Building Loan Fund Act These
two laws were so framed as to place
In the hands OF the State Board OF
Education the guidance and practical
control OF the policy OF consolidation
AT the same time they have been a
great stimulus in increasing local tax.
alton and aropsing local interest
Another law has just been passed 10
still further encourage consolidation
and transportation. This Is the es,
Enlistment Of a Graded School Fund
along the same lines as the High
School Fund The General Assembly
which adjourned on March Is, turnet
over to the state Board OF Education
the sum Of $4,000. or 30 much Thereof
as may he necessary. to be used under
rules and regulations OF the Stat,
Board OF Education for the encourage
Iuent and maintenance OF rural graded
schools OF two. three and four rooms
provided. that no such schools shall
receive more than 5000 annually: ant
provided, further. that any school re
ceiving aid under this plan shall no
receive aid from the High School Fund
I We estimate that with this $4,000 W.
can raise by private subscription ant
by increased local taxation at leas
100000 q year.
1t should be borne In mind tina
under our laws and under the rules ant
regulations OF the State Board OF Ed
ucation. no schoolhonsc can be located
without the written consent OF th'
local superintendent: also, Ill plan.
and specifications for new schools, OF
for additions to old schools. must NEE
his approval; must meet the require.
ments OF the Virginia law as to ven
.tilation. lighting and sanitation: and
where State aid is given to the higf
schooIR or moneY Is loaned for thl