The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-02

The issue around which most Of
the criticism Of the consolidated
school centers Is the transportation
problem. Critics of the plan contend
with great vehemence that distances
are too great and that the expense
of transportation is prohibitive. And
yet we are confronted by the fact
that the majority Of the schools of
this type are to be found in the new
er sections Of the state where the o N
ditions alluded to would naturally
seem to be most acute. It certainly
Is true that unless the transportation
question Is handled wisely, it may
we'll be the rock on which the on
soiidated school will ground. Where
many districts have had trouble is
in the attempt to use the methods
OF other districts or to fix on the COM
munity some already prepared plan
not suited to conditions in that par
ttcular place. An scheme Of this kind
should be elastic and capable Of being
suited to different conditions. Sup
pose that the district is a thickly set
tied township. it would be better to
divide a certain sum of money evenly
among six drivers to cover the town
ship. paying them less and giving
them shorter routes than to divide
the same among four. Judgment m
a little careful planning can always
find a solution for these questions
that will satisfy the conditions.
Hours Not Bad.
The familiar argument of the crit
the children, and possibly for their
parents as we'll, is involved in getting
up and starting for school at ar hour
as early as Z O'Clock in the winter
time. If h routes are we'll planned
an dthe o of transportation Is
adequate, this early hour Is not at all
| necessary. but il were. that II year
old boy is not much worse off then
than he Wouid be in the summer time
when he would be up and have a
good part Of a days work In the field
done by that hour. And a ride Of
an hour, even an hour n a half, in
a comfortable conveyance in charge
of a competent driver is not as much
of q hardship on a winter morning
when the wind is blowing from the
northwest and the Thermometer indi-
Gates 20 below zero. as would be a
walk of u mile through the now
drifts. The significant fact is that the
pupil in the consolidated district will
ride and will he at school on such
days when in all probability if walk
ing was his only means of getting
there. his seat would be often va
cant.
~ 40 AOPOGkSAAA6 AA0 SAAAo - AAo
portation problem is a question that
ever ycommunity must work out for
itself In q way best suited to its local
conditions. In one of the most sue
Icessful districts of the state. the pupils
all provide their transportation at
their W expense, the district fur
nishing only a suitable stable near
the school house. In every cOmmu-
nifty there are teams and drivers avail
able. who will gladly take contracts
to do the hauling at prices that are
far from prohobitive. There are sew
eral we'll known districts in the state
where the plan was first inaugurated
1t vas difficult to secure good drivers
at any figure under $50 a month,
cants for the work at $40. The Sc.
cret seems to be to shorten up the
routes and to lay out the more Of
them. After the system has been
working for a year or two. there will
be more applicants for places as driv-
ers than u be used. At least such
has been the case in the districts
where these schools now are at work..
Closely related to the thought that
each community must work out that
adaptation Of the plan hat most
nearly Get their w conditions Is
the further statement that a CONSOLE
dated school which of course is a
graded school must likewise be a
school truly suited to the conditions
as they are IL it is to really fulfill Its
mission. Equal in a%bsurdity to the
deep water fish In a dry land. environ
ment is the city graded school trans
planted to the country. And yet the
largest and best rural consolidated
schools in America today-those IN
Indiana-are simply high schools To-
Gated In the country. We need
wholly ne wtype of school-one that
recognizes in it's curriculum and prac.
tice the needs Of its environment. both
as to the subject matter treated In
the class rooms and as to the plan.
ming and timing of school terms. On
the former phase. you have already
heard q great deal and are doubtless
satisfied as to what Is proper and ad-
visable. On the latter-the planning
OF school terms with reference to the