The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-28

largo school for long term.
One OF the most striking things we
have observed is that almost invari-
ably when q new consolidated school
Is erected, the patrons demand better
quality OF teachers than they have had
In the small schools
II remains to consider the cost where
consolidation and transportation are
now in vogue, and OF the COZ. in the
same communities when the old con-
ditions prevailed. The stock objection
that the public roads will not permit
consolidation and transportation, and
that the people will not favor the
change, has bean ruthltssly oyerthrown
by the actual use OF some eight score
wagons In over one-third OF our coun-
ties, with every variety OF road--good
bad and Indifferent. The people In these
communities nave placed an unquali-
fed endorsement upon the change from
the old conditions TO the new. But
the last remaining objections, the cost
OF the wagons and drivers, which has
looked so formidable and which is
still cause for battle in many OF our
communities where consolidation and
transportation are on trial. was shown,
after q careful study two years ago by
Mr. Thomas, to be man of straw. a
zcare- crow
In the gross amount OF money ex-
pended IT does as a rule cost more
That fact might as we'll be faced; but
II has been proved beyond cOntradic-
ton that the cost per month per pupil
In daily attendance in the small schools
before consolidation Is greater than the
cost per month per pupil in daily at
tendance after the consolidation OF
theFe schools. AS Mr.. Thomas says:
"a four-teacher school with two wagons
Will cost mere money in the aggregate
than five ne-tcacher schools without the
wagon But the five one-rooms schools
cost more per child upon the basis OF
daily attendance" And he adds this
pregnant statement, which should be
| preached every day and all day, until
it burns itself into the hearts and
brains Of the people throughout the
South: 1T Is tie daily attendance
that counts"
The only correct basis on which to
!; hBure the cost OF a school Is the at
tendance of the children. It Is the
child present in, not the child absent
| from, the school. that counts In re-
ducing the cost. 1t Is the child absent
| from. not the child present IN, the
school, that counts In increasing the
cost. Any, other basis OF estimating
the cost Is absurd. illogical and utterly
foreign to the real purpose Of school
|
| ploy teacher to hold school enroll
Ing twenty children, how much does
1t cost per month to educate each one
| OF these children? 1.-TWO dollars" says
sonie one But this answer IS probably
| incorrect. The cost to educate depends
upon the attendance, or presence, OF
the children. II the enrolment is
| twenty. and the daily attendance is
| ten. TIE cost to educate each child is
\ par ntH
being educated.
i But" says some one, the communi-
~ has to pay the 81, to the teacher
anyway; so it's the same thing SO far
as the community is concerned" There
are two answers to this statement,
either which seems to me to be sufi-
4 Client:
First. in the large majority OF the
communities. in Virginia at least, the
community" doesn't pay the $40. The
i state (Which in this matter means the
cities. the few rich counties, and the
corporationO pays a goodly part OF
IT and pays 1t on basis OF the chill
dren In the community. whether they
attend school or not. II Virginia and
i other Southern States should distrib-
ute part of the State school fund
as Florida and California do, on a basis
of daily attendance, there would be a
oiakinS oi the ory bones OF !ndifer-
ence that would In many communities
be most refreshing.
Second, 1t is sufficient answer &c
the above statement to point out tina,
II $40 have 10 be paid anyhow" com.
mon sense should dictate that ths
Community see that every dollar shall
serve Its purpose. shall attain It'll
object shall not be wasted. The objec,
Is not to eapend the sac. but to get the
ifch!ldren into the schoolroom. Tia,
method which is the most practicable
Tor getting the urges: number of chill.
dren into good school for the creates
number OF days is the cheapest.
II this statement is a sound one. I,
the school is the place where the child
and not the money. Is the centra
thought. then schools will be consol
idated and children transported, no
because money will be saved thereby
but because the children will be bene
! f1ted thereby. II the children are ben.
ehted 1t is economy to make the change
even though the cost is greater
Economical expenditure is expenditure
II isn't boarding economical expen-
otture Is not pacsimon!ous expenditure