The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-07-05
BrrrsR COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
consolIdatIan ana More Msnsy

thar consolidation Ii the most prom-
ising means on improving the country
school.
Under right conditions II has the
following advantageT:
II makes possible grading. ciassifi
cation and longer recitations.
ii allows more effective school
supervision with all ita attending
benefits
II makes high school work possible
FOR many who would otherwise never
have such advantages.
Il affords better specialization along
the lines Of domestic science, sgrtcut
ture. manual training. drawing aro
music.
Ii leads to greater emulation and
the school sentiment OK the community
and lead to other advantages such as
libraries, sanitation, equipment. bet
ter teachers, longer terms, good roads,
more regular attendance. larger
social influences and higher ssandzrds
Everywhere that consolidation has
| been tried Ii has been approved IS
better than the Isolated single school.
| In many instances consolidated
schools including the expense Of
Transportation have cost less than the
| isolai ID school and still been called an
| Improvement However. no effort
should be made to have shem cost
less. They are worth more ana
| should cost more They usually lead
| to a larger appreciation OF the Dene-
| fits resulting In more liberal support
for still greater returns. Thus thay
usually come to cost more and be
worth much more. What we want 10
not cheaper but better schools.
Where consolidation has reduced the
cost OF schools that result has been
| obtained by reducing the number OIL
teachers and giving each teacher
large number OF pupils. This should
never be done.
| No Argument for Cheaper Schools.
| In working for consolidation We
should not use the argument thst it
will be cheaper. We have el ugh
argument without that. Although II
IL possible to consolidate aud cat
down expenses by reducing the num-
| her OF teschers and stlli have good re-
| suits, there Is great danger that IN
giving one teacher too many pupils
we lose more in personal influence
han we gain in grading and cisssiii-
cation. The consolidated country
school must NOT be a cheap school;
Il must have good teachers and
enough teachers 30 that the number
of pupfls for each teacher shall not
be too large for personal influence
and individual work.
All the arguments that have offered
against consolidation have disappear.
ed in the light OF the successful ex.
perience or thousands OF consolidated
schools In all parts OF the country.
Nevertheless some precautions are
necessary. The number OF schools 20
be combined the location OF the new
school and all such questions should
be answered wsth reference 10 tne
geographical location and environment
In each particular case, Sometimes
, two schools sometimes ten should pc
consolidated Sometimes large $50
lated country school should have a
good building and two good teachers
. ana remain where II Is until conditions
make further combination practicable
What the School Should Be.
The consolidated school should NOT
, necessarily be in town, and surely II
! should not be an imitation OF the toFn
/ school. II should be for country boys
: and girls with agriculture, manual
training and domestic science adapted
10 their needs
The means of conveyance should pt
comfortable. safe and punctual This
wa gons should be the property or tnt
school, the horses should be wei
known and carefully chosen, and tht
driver should be reliable and be pul
nnder bond for the faithful and cap
able performances OF bis duty
Where consolidation can not a
once be accomplished other meant
should at once be adopted for the iin
orovement OF the country school
In the minds Of some the improve
I ment OF the country school meant
, nothing more nor less tDan cousolida
ton. They advocate that and tna
only and when they can not secure
& they neglect 10 offer other attainaol'
! improvements but Just continue taik
: ing for consolidation n IL altogethe
{. possible 10 improve the schools with
!. ont consolidation and u is possible q
1 rOUA0iiuhtt WthhQNl
country school can not be greatly im
a proved By consolidation or othsr"is
= without more money
;. We should face zoe issue aquarsi
and quit trying to tell tax payers no'
. 10 improve the schools without NOR
money. We should quit trying 10 shii
the possibility 10 an underpai
teacher and should say frankly tha
the country school must offer NOR
money. Better teachers are not -
cured By talking about poor teacher
i and finding fault witb them. but b
4 Offering salaries that will attract be
n ter teachers. enable teachers 70 max
: better preparation and remain iongs
IN the work.
j. ". BOWEHe.
" Department OF Pedagogy,
~ | nktahoroa 3 NJ College EtiiiWate