Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1911-11-16
CONSOLIDATING SCHOOLS.

J. w. Brister, State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, sends out the
following letter to county superintend-
ents regarding consolidation of schools.
We hardly see how schools could be
consolidated in this county more than
they are. The prime need is really
more schools, considering the area and
the condition of roads. We know of
children in this county who are today
walking miles for want of school in
their community, over roads which
during the winter months it is any
thing but a pleasure to ride over. I'm
til better roads are constructed, it will
be impracticable in this county to con-
solidate any further, and until there
are good roads stretching in every d.
rection it will be the best policy to en-
courage the building Of many school
houses so as to put education as near
the home of the pupil as possible. We
know of cases where consolidation has
been attempted, and the people at once
saw how impracticable 1t was, in this
county, at least. Give us more schools,
more teachers. and less waste of pub
lie money so that more and better
schools may be maintained.
The following is Superintendent
Brister's letter to County Superintend-
ents:
~ want to take this means of call
ing your attention to the need of con-
solicitation in properly developing our
school system in Tennessee. am
well aware that what have to say is
an old story, but it can do no harm
for me to emphasize IL at this time
"It is fact worthy of note that the
states that are making the most pro-
gress In educational matters and the
counties of our own state which are in
the forefront educationally have con-
sidered the matter of consolidation Sc
riously and have entered upon it in
thoroughly systematic way.
ut is reasonably certain that we
can make no great Improvement in
school conditions as long as we en-
deavOr to maintain 30 many single
teacher. one room schools. No teach
or can do satisfactory work with forty
or fifty pupils, ranging through six
or eight grades. Until we adopt con-
solidation as fixed policy and begin
to combine the single schools as rapid
ly as circumstances permit, we need
not expect decided and permanent i'm
provement.
"The two prime desideraUa of a
school are First, as large number as
possible of the available children in
attendance, and Second, efficient in
struction. Both results are realized
by consolidation. 1t is a fact almost
universally attested to that when two
or three or four single teacher schools
are consolidated the attendance upon
the one new school is in excess of the
combined attendance upon all the sim
gle schools. And there can be no sort
of doubt as to the Improvement in in
struction. Three or four teachers
working in one school with all their
pupils together will bring about a
school spirit which is wholesome and
uplifting Such a school community
will realize its power and will soon
begin to contribute not only to the life
of the children, but will reach the
adults as we'll, helping them and Sc
curing their help.
Consolidation means a more salts
factory classification and grading of
pupils, more of the teachers time to
each child and class, and in conse-
quence more rapid and real advance
ment.
''There is wide spread feeling that
the curricula of our elementary schools |
ought to be vitalized: that agriculture |
and domestic science ought to be in
troduced; that the contents even of the |
conventional studies need revision; all |
for the purpose of enriching the school |
course and relating it more directly to |
life
"It is absolutely certain that this |
cannot be done with the single teacher
school. Already his program is
crowded and there can be no addition
to the burdens he Is carrying. Only
in the consolidated school can we hope
to introduce such reforms.
GAS / have indicated above, CONSOLE
dation is the condition of progress, of
more efficient teaching, of undermined
curricula, of increased attendance, of
permeated educational success.
Consolidation, in most cases, in
wolves transportation, but we need not
be afraid of that Some of the coun-
ties of Tenln ssee have school wagons
transporting their boys and girls back
and forth daily, and they are just as
essential and vital part of the school
as the teacher or the building. Local
conditions vary greatly anu no one
could prescribe intelligently for every
county in the State; but it is agreed
that under ordin nary conditions in ru-
raj communities one school for every
twenty or twenty-five square miles is
sufficient. If the school is situated in
the center of such an area no pupil
would be at any very great distance,
especially IL means of CONVEYANCE are
provided.
81 hore every County Superintend-
ert iii give consideration to this i'm
rortaLt matter; will study his local