The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-12-06
CONSOLIDATED
SCHOOL MOVEMENT
THIS MOVEMENT is MAKING RAP
10 PROGRESS IN MANY or THE
STATES SAYS PROF. A. o.
WEEKS OF THE A. c.-HAs
MANY ADVANTAGES.

Consolidation of schools is making
rapid progress in many of the states"
says A. ID. Weeks of the department
of education at the N. D. Agricultural
college. The state superintendent of
Ohio says that the present admins
tration Of public education in Chic is
very much in favor of consolidation
in rural schools; that tho plan is
working well in Ohio and that the
number of consolidated schools, is con-
IStantly increasing. -
State Superintendent FairchiId of
Kansas reports that over 500 pupils
in that state are now attending con-
solidated schools, most of which have
high school work ranging from one
to four years.
Under recent legislation in Mime
sofa the movement is making rapid
progress. superintendent Schulz
says: Consolidation has been effect
ed in over fifty schools, mostly in
northern Minnesota. The annual state
aid and the building aid have been the
chief means of getting the movement
under way. Without those 1 feel sure
we hould have made little progress.
Not much can be said as yet as to
n permanent success of the move
ment but | am sure that the consoli-
dated school will justify itself when
intelligently operated and directed
Superintendent Dewey of Washing
ton says: The greatest obstacle in
the efforts of improving the rural
schools has been the belief. almost
universal, that 1t was a city school
only that could measure up to the
highest standard Of efficiency, yet to-
day in scattered sections of the state
there are rural schools that may fairly
be termed model schools. This is our
encouragement as what has been done
In one county may in general be done
| elsewhere
have been summarized, by Superin-
tendent Ustrud of South Dakota, as
follows:
Consolidation provides for better
and more modern school buildings:
better lighted, better heated, better
ventilated, with better sanitary con-
ditions, all of which tend to improve
n promote the health interests of
the school and Of the community
Consolidation provides for better
teachers, and, because of the more ia
vorable social conditions which exist
among them, they have greater en-
thusiasm and interest in their work.
Teachers are engaged for a longer
term and are paid better salaries, en-
0blliAE llC ItuELSSS 70 seizure IedcH-
ers who have had a normal school.
college or university training. Trained
and experienced teachers for special
subjects, such as music, drawing, ag-
riculture, nature study, etc, are Sc
cured.
Under consolidation there is a
longer term of school than many of
the small schools now have, and at
less cost.
"The consolidated system provides
for a greater variety of studies. in
Guiding manual training, domestic sci
ence, agriculture, music, gymnastics,
etc, hence a greater incentive to boys
n girls to continue in school long
enough to finish the high school
course. it, sF
Consolidation tends toward a more
healthy social spirit in the school and
in the community; rural and village
children mingle together upon an COM
mon plane, the one securing much from
the other. Parents and teachers be-
come better acquainted with each
other through frequent social gather
ings at the common meeting place
the school house. Home and school
are brought into closer relation to each
other.
with consolidation comes better
roads, giving the farmer the best ia
cilities for transportation and thereby
increasing the valuation of the farm.
Once when a man wished to sell his
farm he advertised, "A school near
Now he advertises, Children conveyed
to good schools. Good graveled roads
all the way to town.
Consolidation has made possible the
solution Of the problem of agricultural
education, and 1t is the only complete
solution that has been offered.
Consolidation is the only, plan tried
or proposed by which the country child
can III such an education as mod
ern conditions demand, n such as is
already afforded the city child.
Through consolidation, country
boys and girls are furnished a good
education from the kindergarten
through the high school without dis
turbing the home either by separation
of members of the family OF by NOV
ing to town to educate the children
consolidation is one of the means
Of solving the problem OF compulsory
education and under it there is prac-
tically no need Of a 'truant officer
There Is no educational issue in
North Dakota more important than
that of consolidation. There are a
goodiy number OF centralized schools
at present but not nearly enough.
They offer the only means by which
young people in the country may Sc
A