The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-29

Pat, we are not only fooling the
boss, but ourselves as we'll"
+ + + + + + + + f. + + + I. + +
+ f.
+ CONSOLIDATION OF THE =
! RURAL SCHOOLS. +
!. &
I. I. + !. + 1. 1. 1. + + + + I. 4. +
Professor ]. M. Mcconnell Of the
Mankato state normal school, gave
perhaps one of the most interesting
and logical talks on boosting "By
Consolidation of Rural Schools" that
has been heard for long time. He
had his subject well in hand, and
what he said was taken from actual
experience as teacher and edu-
Gator. In part he said:
when l refer to this community
l do SO with the understanding that
it is distinctly a farming district.
These cities are cities only in so
far as they grow out of agriculture.
We can't hope to build up interests
that do not come from the soil.
"One of the problems that con-
fronts the people of Minnesota to-
day is the decline of the rural popu-
lation. There are two especial dam
gers in this; the first is that we are
losing large number of the people
and second, the substantial class of
farmers who are landed proprietors.
The farmer is worth most at his
own occupation, not as retired
farmer and allowing his land to be
rented to some disinterested per-
son.
Cause of Leaving the Farm.
Il hold that this moving to the
large cities is partly caused by the
isolation of the farmer in his COM
munity. Thus, most farmers when
they become well-to-do usually long
for more social intercourse and cul-
ture, and being able, they move to
the cities as retired farmers. Edi-
tors and farmers are the only two
classes of people who can retire at
middle age" he said with q humor-
Gus twinkle to his eye.
"It was the educational system
that drove people from the farms
to the cities, and from Minnesota to
other states. This matter of farmers
moving away from the country is a
serious one, and introduces the curse
of tenant farming. In the United
States today more than 40 per cent
of the farms are Occupied by tenants.
| This does two things: destroys the
farm and social life Of a community
and sterilizes the soil.
OutIived Its Usefulness.
"a large majority of the farmers
who move to the cities do SO be.
cause they want to give their chill.
dren better education than that
given in the little red school house.
In this respect the country school
house, which was so famous in
history, has failed, because it has
not kept pace with the advance in
civilization. In other words, it has
outlived it's usefulness.
"a system should be adopted that
would bring learning and education
to the farmers as we'll as the city
jewellers. The industrial and educa.
| tional systems cannot be worked out
by the old fashioned school.
"If it ever works out, it will be by
the consolidation school, This is not
new movement. 1t was originated
in Massachusetts in 1869, when the
yankees desired something that
came more within their bearing and
this was the consolidation of rural
schools.
"These central points finally made
progress into other states, and
it came to the middles west, but so far
it has not reached Minnesota ex-
tensively. At recent meeting of
the National Educational association
large and detailed report of these
conditions was made, and some as
founding results revealed.
"Of course there are some condi-
tons where consolidation will not
work out successfully. These are;
where the topography of the country
will not permit the conveyance Of
the students, or the roads are I'M
passable most of teh time.
Minnesota Type of Consolidation.
Minnesota is not SO very far in
the forefront of consolidation, but
this state has had a peculiar type
of consolidation of which there are
two methods. First, where schools
are already established, and second,
consolidating in the country Either
system is effective and eat the pres
ent time Minnesota is following both
methods to some extent"
Mr. Mcconnell then gave a his
tory of consolidation in this state,
which began with the high school.
This encouraged the students to
get a higher education, and Mime
sofa is noted for it's excellent high
school system. The legislature of
1909 passed two acts for develop
ment along this line. One was
known as the Putnam act and the
other the Benson.Lee act, which
provided for the establishment of
agriculture schools in connection
with the high schools.
Following this, the speaker gave
the arguments for the two systems.
For advantages he said that they
pave tho community social harmony