The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-14

and Jumpers" TO encourage the
children to use these. we built shelter-
ed stalls at the rear OF many OF the
schools grounds.
IS Lastsfa fall ] visited new consolidated
school IN Halifax county. and at some
distance to he read OF the schoolhouse
= counted twenty-one horses eating
their dinner In covered stalls. Five
schools were merged into this central
Eschoo ol, which Is situated on seven acres
OF land. This Is q country school and
the farmers themselves inaugurated the
movement for consolidation. TO this
school. as to most OF: the other con-
solidated ones. childron will go a long
distance. and in so doing will pass
by the doors OF smaller schools which
they formerly attended and which have
not yet been closed. Such schools soon
starve for. lack OF attendance. This
is one method Of closing them. 81
This Is sufficient answer to the
objection that the ople will not con-
sent to give up their little schools.
Is sconsolidationSe essential to r. proper
solution Of the rural school problem?
I believe that 1t is. and I believe that
this Is now universally admitted among
thinking people. This does not mean
sOlt5l lCOuES6y IudIS aWo Will not always
have the small school. In fact, so far
have one and two-room schools, and
a great many Of them. & Il
The Limitations of time forbid q very
5extended discussion Of the kinds of
schools needed In our rcountrygdistrIcts.
In fact. before this sintelligent audience
suchaaf discussion does not seem to. be
necessary. Most of us agree that the
pro blem we have not solved, but must
solve. is how to make tho country
school fit country life. Only that
schools fulfils its mission which reaches
out and touches intelligently, sympa-
hettcally, constantly and consciously
every social and economic interest that
concerns its community.
And so when speak OF the con-'
ssolidated school In Virginia, T mean Ia
grouping, at some central point, Of
small schools into larger school for
the purpose OF working out this great
pro blem. This onsolidation. therefore,
means much more than. he mere group
Ing OF small schools under one roof: !:
1T means much more than the usual
grading OF the children accordingst to
heir apacities and sin
the study OF books.
8 It's deeper and moro sign' fcant mean
Ing may be, found In the fact that it
makes possible a mo 9 dignifled 3 and
beautiful Structure, which in itself en-. en-
shances the respect OF the community
for the school; that It enables II larger
Fairgrounds to- be provided, and
healthy. interesting and properly dl-
sdected games to be inaugurated for
the children and youth of the commu-
nifty; that ! t makes possible the school,
garden and the icul tural 4 plot and
manual training and domestic science;
that It makes easier the study Of the
economic interests OF tho community
by tea ching tho arithmetic. physics.
chemistry geography. history, Ian
iguage and composition that look to-
ards. and not away from. the farm;
that II makes possible the formation
OF otildren's aooietiss, OF oo- operative
sindustries for the women and mon,
and Of citizens leagues for the con-
ttinued oversight and Improvement OF
the school: |: that, by bringing together
larger groups of. chile rem and larger
groups of citizens. 1t tends to sociaIize
the isolated dlstrlcts by taking the
children and their parents out Of their
small and narrow environments, and
giving them an enlarged social vision
and contact; It therefore not only
makes the boy and girl dissatisfied
with q deficient or uninviting environ
ment, but It takes the next logical
and necessary step OF giving the boy
and Girl both the capacity and tho
desire to return to that environment
and Improve It. 1T tends to minimize
the influence of the anti-soctal patron,
who, unless he can control the small
school, may threaten to break IL up
by withdrawing his patrona gs--and 1t
therefora tends 10 maxiIni1a the COM
lnl,ntty life as against the Individual.
I NiYa Aa. !sopt AVID Next 5suRday.1I