Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-07-18
APPEAL Is MADE FOR
BETTER RURAL EDUCATION.
Nr. Clappey Voices the Needs OF Rural
Schools.

To the great agricultural class Of
this, one of the banner public road
lcounties of the South, through whose
farms and plantations such an mag
nifcent system of public highways
extends, this appeals is made in be
half Of that bright-eyed little boy Of.
yours, just beginning to lisp, papa, v
and for the sake Of your sweet-faced
little girl, Gods best messengers
from heaven, whose childish prattle
should make glad the hearts in every
rural home.
You pay your share of the taxes;
and your children should have as
good school facilities in the country
as any boy or girl can get in town "
city.
These educational advantages can
be procured for the country children
without their parents having to move
away from the old farm. The rural
free delivery of mail, telephones good
roads and the parcels post agitation
have already heralded the dawning Of
the era when the country children
shall come into their own education
ially by means of the consolidated ru-
raj school.
The day will arrive when the one
teacher crossroads and old-feld
Ieountry school houses will be consol-
dated in each county district into
modern brick buildings, costing from
five to twenty-five thousand dollars.
These buildings will be equipped with
biological, chemical and physical lab
oratories, workshops and rooms for
teaching mechanical drawing; sewing,
cooking and other things that make
for more economical and better liv-
ing Each building will be in charge
of a principal, who with a corps 0f
competent teachers will give as good
instruction by grades as can be OBJ
tanned in any town or city. The couu-
try children of Sumter county who
would live too far away to walk will
be carried to and from school in wag-
Ons or automobiles, which, with
! their drivers, will be provided at pub
lie expense.
Do not think that this is the Ell
topian dream of a visionary For
such has actually been accomplished
by County Superintendent Otis E.
Hall, Crawfordville, Montgomery coun-
ty, Indiana. Everyone interested N
country life should see the stereopi-
con views Illustrating the marvellous
changes for the better wrought in the
country schools Of his county by this
, practical man of vision, who, as Il
farmers son with limited opportuni-
ties dreamed for all country children
which must come true in every coun-
ty that desires to keep up with the
onward move of human progress.
Do not delay; consolidate your ru-
raj schools wherever possible, and the
well equipped brick school buildings
for the country children VIII come n
due season, if you work while you
wait and positively expect what you
should earnestly desire.
Good roads have within a few years
increased Sumter county farm values
to from twenty-five to fifty dollars
per acre The rural schools properly
consolidated will still further raise
these land values to from seyenty-five
to one hundred dollars per acre; and
will encourage many more white sat
tiers of the right kind to invest II
farm lands and build beautiful coun-
try homes in Sumter beneath skies rs
fair as those of italy
Our educational system is begin
ming to become top heavy The Dis
trict Agricultural schools and the few
strictly high schools we have are
complaining OF poor preparation IN
the primary and grammar schools. t
is never too late to strengthen the
foundations. With properly CONSOLE
dated rural schools, state high
school in every country, the district
agricultural schools, and our higher
institutions Of learning al l in good
running order, each doing its own
sphere, the theory of equal rights to
! all and special privileges to noAe
would be admirably eXemplifed in the
educational system of Georgia.