The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1911-08-10

fate some have already met-im-
mediate dismissal. Especial care
should be exercised so that none
but very reliable persons obtain a
contract for transporting pupils
to and from school. The driver
must have absolute control of the
children on the way; consequently
he should be as carefully selected
as we choose our teachers. In
Wayne county and in some others,
the boy who drives the wagon also
attends school. This is commend
able in that it helps the boy, but
the present writer believes it is at
tended with very grave dangers.
1t is harder to control children
who are closely seated Ill wagon
with nothing to do than to manage
the same pupils in the classroom,
therefore few students are capable
of being drivers on the transporta-
ton wagons. It is advisable, if
possible, for the district or county
to own the school wagons. This
will reduce the cost of transporta-
ton and insure the school of good,
comfortable, suitable conveysnces.
These should be capable of seating
eighteen or twenty pupils, and
should be equipped with springs,
cushions, and curtains.
Transportation will increase at
tendance. This is very desirable
since one-ffth of the white popu-
lation of Mississippi are iIliterate,
and only tlfty-two per cent of our
children are in daily attendance in
our schools. These are the figures
given out by the State Board of
Education three years ago. Free
transportation will increase attend
ance in our rural schools at least
thirty per cent. The facility and
regularity with which pupils are
brought to the consolidated school
has the same effect as shortening
the distance between the farm
home and the school. The wagon
service does away with the "hit-
and miss" method of going to
school on foot and is conducive oi
greatly improved school patron
age.
This is no "fad"; two thousand
consolidated schools with public
transportation attest the adapta
billty of the system to the peculiar
needs of any agricultural commun'
lity. 1t has been tried and succeed
ed in thirty-two states. The con-
solidated school with free trans
portation is as successful in the
sparsely settled districts of Idaho
and North Dakota as in the more
congested townships of Massachu
setts, and as efficiently serve the
needs of the people of Florida and
Louisiana as that of Ohio and In
diana. But some one says awe
must have good roads" The
states that are now enjoying the
benefits of consolidation did no
wait on good roads. Harrison
county with its consolidated
| schools did not wait on roads
neither have Alcorn, Wayne, Laud
erdale and many other countie!
where consolidation with its wagor
service is already improving th'
educational advantages in the ru
raj communities. Did the peopl,
in Brandywine, in our own Clai
borne, wait on roads? The testi
mony is that ''the plan is a success
and the patrons would not chang,
back to the old way" We canno
: afford to wait on good roads ant
: all other favorable conditions
] When we get started in business
like way on consolidation ant
] transportation, the obstacles vii
: begin to give way; good roads vii
: follow in the path of progress
: One improvement will create a de
, mand for others.
|