Charlevoix county herald., 1910-11-19

TV HE district school must go.
The familiar little structure at
the country crossroads is
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 Bpgress. 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 10 hear 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 neighborhood school.
with one teacher, is passing away. In
its place is coming a. new factor in
country life, school six or eight
times as large, with three or four
teachers Of training and ability; a
try boy or girl an education that
promises 10 revolutinni2e the rural
development Of America.
The country school has passed the
point where it constitutes a playroom
for thescountry lad when there is no
work 70 be done on the farm. IL has
taken on more Importance than as a
parties, box suppers and ice cream
festivals.
Education for the Farm.
A remarkable movement is under
way I'm the United States. almost un-
noticed by the general public and lit
tie appreciated by many OF the farm
ing communities themselves. but
destined TO play most important
part in the education Of the 100000
country children OF school age. ard OF
the generations that are to follow
them along tho devious road OF learn
ing.
Yesterday the country boy toiled
through Indifferent roads and across
piowed fields to the district school.
To-day big caTryall, full of rollicking
children and drawn by excellent
horses. rolls UP to tho farmhouse gate
each morning with the regularity OF
the rural mail carrier.
The children pile in, the van moves
on 10 the next farmhouse and &C.
cumulates more children Through
tho winding roads of district. often
fortyhsniles square, half-dozen OF
these big wagons. maintained at pub
lie expense. are bringing hundreds OF
children every day TO two-stoTy
schoolhouse. such as the country
pupils OF a few years ago never
dreamed OF. At night the wagons
roll back over the mornings route
dercsiting children az their own door.
steps.
! The<eountry is thus solving the
'baOlzto the farm" problem 1t has
found the means to stop the great out.
pouring OF sturdy boys and girls to
the city schools, where they have been
educated away from the country -
~ has succeeded In bringing into the
country. almost 10 the farmhouse
door. an education for the country
youth equal In its general features to
THAI of the city school. and supple
mented by a vocational training fol
permanent life on the farm II is an
education for the farm, not for the
pilgrimage 10 the city.
New Consolidated School.
The new school is known for want o.
better name as the "consolidatet
rural sschool." The name fails TO de
scribesthis great new institution o
rural life. II is more than a consoli
dation OF country schools. 1t is
graded school. high school. a man
ual training school, agriculture
school. domestic science school, al
most miniature university.
II is All institution that s. turuin;
out country pupils finished" as {,
education, and fitted 10 do greater ant
better work on the farm. II is SC
cial center about which the interest
of an entire township are beginning
30 revolye. IL is model experiments
farm. a dairy farm, a forestry schoo
horticultural school II is an inst
triton whose Keynote of education is
Educate tho country yCu,t Tor th