The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-08-30

Sept. IL.
Consolidation of Schools
The following was written by Mr..
Harrison in response to letter by
Mrs. |. M. Harrison asking an ex-
preston of opinion on the question
of consolidation of schools on Orcas
Island. The communication would
have appeared in our last issue but
for lack of space.
Editor Islander: Much has been
said. much has been written and
some little has been done about
making fewer and larger country
and village school districts. and the
grading of and extending the com.
mon school course and giving in
dustrial and full high school train
ing.
/ have before me now Bulletin
No. z issued by Henry B. Dewey.
State Superintendent of Public
Instruction. relating to the "Consoli-
dation of Rural Schools and Trans
portation of Pupils" have read
much on this subject and given it a
great deal of attention for many
years before its present agitation.
This idea is not a new one. The
Township system has been working
IN parts Of the middle west for
many years. and where the topogra-
ply of the country admitted and the
development of the country suffi-
cient to stand the expenses, pref
ty nearly ideal results have been at
tanned.
In the township system each dis
trict covers the entire township, the
roads are arranged on section lines.
and in the center of the township
the school buildings are located.
with the school shops, school farms
conveniently near. If approximate
ly all the land in the township is ag-
ricultural. and. as is the case in
much of that part of the United
States. and all in high state of cul-
tivation the question. of supporting
such a school is easy Of solution.
The transportation question not be-
ing with the school, but with the
parents.
Now just to the extent of develop
ment of the country and the topog-
rabhy of the territory compromising
the district is the chance of success
or failure of the proposed plan of
consolidation of rural schools; if the
topography AMI development of the
contiguous territory will admit
there is no question as to the advis-
ability Of consolidation.
There is no question of relative
work done, because that has been
already worked out and answered in
favor of consolidation.
This makes our question purely a
local one. and it seems to me that
one glance at our landscape would
put the idea out of any chance of
practicability.
Then the Development suppose
it is hard for us to admit that we
are as we are. 1t has been a stub
born fight in this part of the world
to get the land into even the condi-
tion of development it is today. /
have no slurs to throw at any one
for what he has not done, but ! do
admit conditions as they are now.
] am very kopeful Of what devel-
opment we are capable Of on Orcas
island. ! have tried to do my full
share towards its development for
the past twenty-five years.
Get an idea of what can be done
from Geo. Myers orchard at Orcas.
Hirchbereer's garden at Deer Har-
Dor and some, of our best dairy
ranches in the valleys; and when
most Of the available lands are pro-
ducing accordingly and we have built
up cooperative stores and markets.
and eliminated the favored few
from business. the hypocrite from
religion and politics and the sneak
and cheat from society. our schools
will be found ranking with the rest /