Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-11-03

TN HE district school must go.
The familiar little structure at
the country crossroads Is
III doomed to extinction. Two hun
dred thousand of them. spread
from ocean to ocean and from border
and border, are marked by the hand
OF progress. The keys have already
been turned in the doors OF several
thousand. to be opened no more to
the purposes OF education for the
country youths.
The half dozen families who sent
their children to the district school
each morning. who watched them
trudge down the country roads in all
kinds OF weather. and who gathered
on Friday afternoons in the little
schoolroom 20 near the speaking" "
have come to realize that what they
could not do by themselves they can
do In cooperation with the families
Of the next district and the surround
ing districts.
The one-room nelghborhood school,
with one teacher. is passing away. In
its place Is coming new factor In
country life. school six or eight
times as large. with three or four
teachers OF training and ability; a
school prepared to bring to the coun-
try boy or girl an education that
promises to revolutionize the rural
development OF America.
The country school has passed the
point where II constitutes a playroom
for the country lad when there Is no
work to be done on the farm. II has
rendezvous for bobsled and hayrack
parties. box suppers and ice cream
| festivals.
Education for the Farm.
A remarkable movement is under
way in the United States. almost un.
noticed by the general public and III.
tie appreciated by many OF the farm
ing communities themselves. but
destined to play a most important
part in the education OF the 7,000,000
country children Of school age, and OF
! the generations that are to follow
them along the devious road OF learn
ing.
/ Yesterday the country boy tolled
through Indifferent roads and across
plowed fields to the district school
Today big carryall. full of rollicking
children and drawn by excellent
horses. rolls up to the farmhouse gate
each morning with the regularity oi
the rural mail carrier.
The children pile In, the van moves
on to the next farmhouse and ac
cumulates more children Through
the winding roads OF a district. often
forty miles square. half-doZen oi
these big wagons, maintained at pub
lie expense, are bringing hundreds o.
children every day to two-story
schoolhouse. such as the countr,
pupils OF few years ago never
dreamed OF, At night the wagon,
roll back over the mornings route
deposlting children at their own door
steps.
The country is thus solving tn,
back TO the farm" problem. II hal
found the means to stop the great out
pouring OF sturdy boys and girls t.
the city schools. where they have beer
educated away from the country
It has succeeded in bringing into tn,
country, almost TO the farmhous,
door. an education for the countr,
youth equal in its general features I,
that OF the city school. and supple
mented by a vocational training TO
permanent life on the farm Il is al
education for the farm. not for III,
pilgrimage TO the city.
New Consolidated School.
The new school is known for want o
a better name as the consolidated
rural school," The name fails 10 de
scribe this great new institution o
rural life. II is more than a consolI
dation of country schools. II is
graded school. high school. a man
ual training school. agriculture
school. domestic science school, al
most a miniature university.
II is an institution that is turning
out country pupils finished" as I,
education. and fitted to do greater an,
better work on the farm. 1t Is a SC
Cial center about which the interest
OF an entire township are beginninI
TO revolve. II is a model experimental
farm, a dairy farm. a forestry school
horticultural school. II is an inst
tuition whose keynote OF education is
Educate the country youth for tn