Devils Lake weekly world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1914, 1913-10-17

These are only a few of the many
disadvantages under which the pupil in
our country school labors. And now as
to the so-called central or consolidated
schools.
The consolidated school was the out
growth Of the very plausible argument
that if children were brought together
in greater numbers it would be possible
to hire better grade of instructors
and consequently the pupils would get
more and better instruction at q no
greater outlay of time or money. The
theory is a good one but it has not,
for many reasons, worked out in prac-
tice. In fact it has been shown by ex.
perience that in many ways central
schools are worse than the old district
school method of education.
In the first place consolidated schools
are too expensive, and many districts
have been compelled on this account
to 60 back to the old system. Another
thing, there has always been trouble
with the rigs used to carry the chill
dren to and from the school. There
is not always someone available to do
the work properly, and this has result
ed in many instances in the engage
ment Of persons totally unfit for the
work. As an instance (and this came
under my personal observatory one
district hired farmers to do the work,
promising to furnish him with what
ever extra rigs were necessary to do
the work properly. 1t was some months
before these rigs were ordered and de-
livered, and the farmer, to fulfill his
contract, rode every morning over the
route on HORSEBACK and the chill
dren followed along on foot behind
the horse In the evening he called
at the school house and delivered the
children to their various homes in the
same manner.
But supposing that the rigs are all
right and in good working order, still
many of the children are obliged to
walk long distance to the road over
which the wagon is driven.
In my opipion there is but one So
luton to the question of how best to
educate the children living on the farm
and that is to educate them at large
central schools, at which they may not
only be educated, but boarded and
roomed as well. Does this strike you
as a visionary scheme! 1t did me, at
first, but the more come to think
about it the more feasible and sensi-
BILE it appears. In fact there appears
absolutely no good argument against it.
If this were done the children could
be taken to the school on Monday
morning and stay there in safety and
comfort until Friday night. They
could be boarded in common dining
room. Good cooks could be engaged
The girls could take care Of the work
(or most of it) and the boys could dc
the necessary chores outside. For the
girls the care of the kitchens, bed
rooms, ETC., could be easily made into 8
course of domestic science, while the
necessary work which would fall to the
boys would help them in their work a.
farmers after they had concluded theil
school work.
The pupils could be boarded mucl
more cheaply than they could in thu
cities, while just as we'll equipped
teachers could be engaged as are nov
employed in city schools.
! Against this idea it has been urget
that it would take the children to-
much away from home influences. Blu
we must remember that it will be pos
sible for the children to be at home q
least two days out of each week.
| lu0 1ucd VI d OVdAuAAS cCuOOI ~
nothing new, except as it is applied t,
children living in the country, anu
certainly it is an idea well worthy o.
our most serious consideration.
Certainly, if it is wisely worked on
it will put country children on pa
with city children in the matter O.
|>education at least SO far up as higl
school branches. It will give them {
chance to pursue regular course o.
study under competent teachers, il
comfortable quarters. It will hlep t
keep children on the farm, it will tent
to make better men and women ant
will do much to dignity farm work
We hope the day is not far distant whe'
we will see it tried.
Yours respectfully,
ABE CALOF.