The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-29
CONSOLIDATION OF
RURAL SCHOOLS URGED

l Grand Forks. N. D.. Nov. 29.-Con-
= s%olidation Of rural schools was the
= keynote OF the annual convention of
2. school officers of Grand Forks county
\ held at the high school in this city
= yesterday.
Over 800 Of the school officers Of the
county were present. as well as a
number of other prominent educators
from Minnesota and North Dakota.
= The meeting was held in h assem-
! bly, room Of the high school building,
/ which was crowded with the visitors.
z The chief features Of the morning
and afternoon sessions were the ad-
dresses of E. M. Phillips, rural school
. commissioner of Minnesota. His Sec
: Ond address was a. continuation of his
E. morning speech, both being devoted to
: the disadvantages of the rural school
and the superiority Of the CONSOLIDATE
} ed institutions.
Advantage Over Ordinary School.
The first disadvantage of the ordi-
nary rural school, according to Mr..
Phillips, was the fact that as a gcncr-
al rule only ono teacher could be en-
ployed for the entire school.
He pointed out that this had the eff
: feet of Curtailing the time for reCita-
tions, which were the most valuable
part of school training. On account
of his lack Of time. the more back
ward pupils receive less attention
/ from the teacher.
He also declared that few teachers
were equally efficient with children OF
l. different ages. AS n general rule he
said that d really good teacher could
only get the best results from pupils
: of one age. and that in this way the
great disparity between the ages of
the classes taught by the rural school
Z teachers mlit9tpl strongly AGAINST
efficiency.
Taking up the matter of buildings,
etc, Mr.. Phillips pointed out that the
I equipment of the rural school was
often hopelessly inadequate from 4
! sanitary point of view.
; Mr.. Phillips declared that a school
building should be equipped with a
/ central heating plant. high pressure
water system for both drinking and
sanitary purposes. Il proper vcntilat-
ing system, and a competent ~janitOr
to look after the building and equip
! ment.
i Most of these factors he pointed out
were generally impossible in a rural
: school.
: Objections Done Away With.
Turning for contrast to the con-
solidated school. Mr.. Phillips declared
that most of these objections to the
rural school were obviated by the
toiiSOliQdled system. Tic SAID that
. in d consolidated school it was pos
: sible to have a proper plant, an ade-
Quate teaching force, and in every
way to raise the work Of the school
to a high point Of efficiency.
, He also pointed out that by means
! of the consolidated school it was pos
; sible to allow pupils living in the
country to go through the high school
without leaving their homes, which
was frequently impossible under the
present system. Hes said that this
was one Of the strongest arguments
in favor Of the consolidated schools.
The session this morning was
opened with a violin solo BY Prof.
]. A. BuchholZ Of Wesley college. l..
y. Warnken Of Emcrado, president
of the convention, then made Z. brief
address, in which he laid stress on
the necessity of the school officers
and people working together for
more efficient schools.
An address was also given by Hans
anderson, county auditor, and a vocal
solo by Mrs. Maud Bcgg Grinith.
At the meeting which opened yes
%sterday afternoon, addresses were
made by Prof. G. w. Rand
lett of the state agricultural college.
:F. H. Goodman, president of the
Grand Forks County Agricultural So
;ciety, O.. D. Center of the Better
Farming association, and DR.. J. Gras-
sick Of this city.
Professor Randlctt laid great stress
on the Importance of agricultural
training such as is now being given In