Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-07-26
CONS0L IDAIION
IS URGED
Gov. Eberhardt Urged the Con
S0Iidation Of Districts IN Order
10 Make Better Schools.

10 make Better SCh00lS.
Governor, Eberhardt and State
Supt. Z. G.. Schulz visited the sum
mer school. for teachers at Willmar
last Monday morning, and after the
morning session delivered talks to
the assembled teachers and num-
ber of interested citizens who had
gathered in the high school auditor
lum. H.. r. ~ .-. - v'r'.=
The speaking session began about
O:3O. Mr.. A. j. Linden of Cass
county, who was visiting the school
on the same day in the interest Of
school. music, favored the audience
with song. He has voice of good
quality and he was heartily encored
ard responded with a Swedish selec-
ton.
Director Hay Of the Summer
School introduced Supt. Schulz in a
graceful little speech, and the latter
spoke about twenty minutes. He said
it was mistake to think that those
OF the head of the school system Of
the stal. did not take as much inter-,
est in tie success Of the rural schools
as Of the high schools and univer-
sity. While there are only 5000
youths getting the benefit of the
State University and 125,0O0 attend
ing high schools there are 100000
children attending the rural schools.
and it should be the highest aim Of
those IN authority to see that condi-
tons under which the vast majority
OF the children Of the state acquire
their education would be so improved
as to give them as good an opportun-
lty as the children of the cities en-
JOY. He spoke reminiscently of the
conditions Of the country school
where he first attended school COM
pairing it with present day develop
ment. He said that the Governor.
had requested him to pick out one
Of the best summer schools of the
state which he might visit to learn
hrst hand what work was being done
there and he had chosen the one &c 'att,
'Wlllmar as one typical Of the good
work that was being accomplished
by the rural teachers.
Governor Eberhardt was given
hearty applause as he was introduce
e! by Director Hay. He launched at
once into discussion of the aues-
ton OF consolidated school districts.
III his travels thru other states he
has kept his eyes open and visited
several communities where such
schools are established and satisfied
himself from personal investigation
that such schools are a success, and
where once established the people
will not go back to the old system.
1t is not generally known that in
tEirty-two different states there are
a total number of 1900 such schools
now in existence, and there is not a
single instance where such district
has been dissolved. after once the
people see the benefits to be derived
from the system. Minnesota is woe
fully behind in this movement, altho
there is no other state in the Union
with such magnificent school fund
and which gives as much State aid
TO its schools. He is desirous Of
seeing some consolidated districts in
Minnesota, for he feels that when it
is demonstrated in a community
what a benefit they are, the idea will
spread and become general. With
the special state aid now available
Of $1,000 year, it is possible to or
ganize such a district from four or
five single room districts, provide
transportation for the children to
and from the central school for very
little more per pupil than what it
now costs to keep up the small in
efficient schools. Such schools are
not only conducive to a better edu-
cation for the young, giving oppor-
tunity for the practical teaching of
d. mestic science, manual training
and agriculture, but it provides So
cial centre which will do much to-
wards reconciling the young people
TO farm life. The Governor empha-
sized strongly that country life
should be made attractive by culture
and the beati6cation Of the homes
He spoke Of having attended an en-.
tertainment in one of the consolidat-
e9 rural districts in the State OF
Ohio, a state when does not give
any financial aid to it's schools. Al
this entertainment a fine lunch was
provided by the girls of the domestic
science department, the boys helped
wash up the dishes, the seats were
rearrahged and delightful program
which would have done credit to any
high school was carried out Thu
question Of wholesome amusements
must not be overlooked. The Cover:
'or told the story Of the little CIR
who preferred the circus to tn,
prayermeeting and then applied tn.
story to conditions as they exist. I
|should not be necessary for tn,
young to go to the cities to see {
moving picture show, for such Of al