Newark post., 1913-10-01
THE CONSOLIDATED
HIGH SCHOOL S
A PROBLEM LESSON FROM NEW ENGLAND

w hllc Su ptIlllcuutHl Ill DuSScA
County, | was mathematical be-
cause | favored the consolidation
Of the rural schools. Fate worked
a peculiar trick with me when she
transferred me from Sussex coun-
ty, Delaware, to superintendency
in MiddleseX county, Massachusetts
where the idea Of consolidation or
iginated and where it is practically
universal.
The summer after my arrival
here, and before | had had time to
get familiar with educational con-
ditions, one of my principals came
to me and said that it would be nee
essary for him to have employment
during the summer vacation. He
asked my advice as to what he
should do. | had just investigated
a new schoolroom stove that ventil-
ated a one room building and heat
ed it equally throughout. | sug-
gested that he sell this stove. 1t
would be profitable to him and a
god-send to the school children.
He returned in about week
very much discouraged.
"Mr. Brooks, there are no one
room school buildings in Middle
sex county. They are all consoli-
dated. The commissioners get in-
dignant at the idea Of the school
buildings being improperly heated
and ventilated. They have the most
modern, up-to-date systems. y
One lady commissioner in the
town Of Lincoln was especially in
censed and demanded if he thought
they were barbarians enough to
keep their children in one room
pens with insufficient air and i'm
proper heat.
| determined to visit Lincoln. |
was all the more interested because
| recalled that the first experiment
in consolidation in the United
States was in Lincoln, Mass, when
they became one of several towns
that conveyed their pupils to the
Central High School at Concord.
Lincoln, Mass, has population
about equal in number to Green.
wood, Delaware. 1t was scattered
however, over an area about half
the size of Cedar Greek. There is
practically no central village.
| found the building a beautiful
one of red brick. Nice walks bor-
dered by flower beds led up to it
from the road. Back of it was
about three acres of Fairgrounds.
This had base ball diamond, a
foot ball gridiron and various other
play apparatus. A part of the
ground was devoted to growing
flowers and vegetables. Here the
children were taught scientific ag-
riculture in the only practical way.
The school had an enrolment OF
one hundred and fifty pupils class
fled in eight grades. About twen-
ty-five per cent Of the children
walked to school, the best were con.
veyed by three two-horse barges,
and an automobile which brought
those most distant. School called
at S.45 a. m. and dismissed at l.l5
p. m. on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday On Tuesday and Thurs
day they dismissed at 2.15 p. m.
Each day a half hour intermlsslon
is given for lunch.
The building had five class-rooms
There were four regular teachers
and an assistant. The assistant
had the fifth room. To her were
sent all backward pupils, all pupils
that by reason Of sickness or alb.
sence or other causes were behind |
their grades. She gave them spec
ial aid and instruction. When they
got in step with the grade work
they were returned to their regular
classes The building had a neat
office for the school commissioners