The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-09-01

sorry education. Some of our states
have already passed compulsory edu
cation laws, and in many other states
1 the sentiment iii favor of such laws. is
4 so pronounced as to Indicate their ear
! lY enactment. These laws prove a
blessing when wisely. framed and prop,
eFly administered. There are no OBJ,
stacles to their efficient administration
in our cities. Everybody is in close
proximity to the school houses and
can easily reach them with but little
exposure in the worst weather. But
in the rural districts. the opposite is
true. If all of the roads We're in good
condition SO as to remain high and dry
it would be possible to successfully
enforce such a law even In the rural
districts, but with the present condi-
ton of the most of the roads, it is
impracticable. And the states in their
efforts to thus bestow blessing upon
their children would be attempting an
unkind benefaction for which they
would pay by a resultant loss in the
physique and mental vigor of our fu-
ture generations.
In addition, improved roads would
make possible new system of central
schools, which would insure better
schools at less cost. Some scheme
could be devised for carrying the
children to and from school, which
would be impossible over our present
bad roads and with the small and bad
| ly located schools in most country
communities. 1t would be possible
under such system for one school
centrally located to receive all of the
children within a radius of from four
to five miles. This would make it pos
sible to establish graded schools in all
of the rural districts. Large and COM
modious buildings could be provided,
more competent teachers could be en-
| ployed, and all the modern facilities
for teaching supplied at minimum
cost. This would reduce the tax levy
upon the patrons, provide better
school for the children, and elevate the
moral and social tone of the commun-
lity. -.....
This is being done now in some of
our states that have improved their
roads. Indiana and Ohio have each
improved about one-third of their
roads, and in these states the schools
are being consolidated. The small
school house OF, one room is being re-
placed by central school house OF
I'M nd
ers. Wagons are sent out every morn
ing to gather the children up and take
them to school land TO take them
home every evening. All the children
within radius of several miles are
thus taken to one school. 1t is found
to cost less pEportionateiy to build
and equip one large central school
house than it does to build and equip
several smallerisones.g Libraries and
reading rooms are provided for these
schools, lecture courses are easily ar
ranged, and the children being brought
together in such large numbers are
properly graded class spirit is engen-
dered, and greater pride and love for
the school roomsfostered. ~
Church attendance would also be
stimulated by road improvement.
When one has a nice smooth road to
travel over he doesn't mind driving
three or four miles to church. Small
congregations would thus be augment
ed. The people would become inter
ested in and take pride in their
churches. Larger and more comfort
able churches would be built, and both
children and grown people would at,
tend church more regularly than they
do now with our bad roads and distant
and uncomfortable churches; for
church going Is not only beneficial
from the religious atmosphere which
peryades them, but there is also an at.
tractive social feature connected with
them which is a. benefit and bless
ing to the people. r
The schools and churches of com.
munity are it's greatest moral and ed
vocational forces. Next to them, per-
haps, stands rural mail delivery, which
brings the people of the rural dis
tricts in daily touch with the cities
and business world 1t places in their
hands the daily papers, Magazines and
all of the current literature of the
country, so that they may be as well
informed as to what is transpiring in
the political, literary and commercial
world as their brothers in the city.
The beneficial effects of this service
upon the happiness and home com.
forts of our rural population is i'm
measurable, and nothing contributes
to its efficiency and regularity more
than improved roads. Sea-. ~.
The importance of improving our
roads is so great that it demands the
most serious consideration of every
one. 1t should command our immedi.
ate and persistent efforts. Both old
and young have an interest init. They
should all be educated to a realization
of its Importance and bearing on their
welfare; the old ones so they may be
gin the work OF Improvement, and the
young ones SO they will be prepared
and willing to take up the work begun
and carry II forward to a high degree
OF perfection. '8t
To this end IL would be a wise poi
Ificy to include in our school courses
Iboth high school and college, n course