The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-27
RURAL SCHOOLS.
From Governor Clarke's Inaugural Address

When one comes to the considers
ton OF the question Of rural school
ne finds he is face to face with prot
lem almost impossible OF solution
Ana yet that affords no reason VII
re should non grapple with it. n
READ everywhere OF the decline q
the rural school and we CONSTANT
near It deplored in public speech
rom the district school oi fort
sears ago with its attendance OF fort.
pupils ranging in age from I'VE /,
lNenty-one years. the rural school ha.
declined TO the school OF ten children
and veTy frequently less. Formerl,
there was the enthusiasm of numaer.
at least The young men and womer
were there. They are no longer there
1t IS said that So per cent of the boy:
and girls never reach the hfgh school
They never will under present condi
lions, This must be said especially
OF the country boz and girl. There are
10 high schools in the country and
The necessities of farm life almos,
preclude the farm boy from the town
high school. He cannot start in with
the opening OF the schools in the
towns the first of September. and il
ne could he could not continue after
the arst OF March The scarcity OF
farm labor and the absolute necessity
OF farms in gathering crops and in
PREPARING for them and planting and
cultiFatiRs absolutely forbid.
Thus deprived OF several months OF
school at both the opening and close
OF the school year he cannot keen M
Eith the classes. becomes discour-
aged. il he has commenced at all. and
quits II he cannot come TO the nigh
scnooi IN town then the high school
must go to the country. This sug-
gests almos, necessarily the eonsol:da-
IKE OF the country schools. see
10 escape from this as the ultimate
result, II seems 10 ne also that ii is
z consummation most devoutly TO be
Wished But It cannot be brough,
ABOUT IN q day Such reforms require
long period OF agitation and the
patient efforts OF men and women of
large vision and devoted TO the com
non good The consolidated school
With It's work in all the GRADES il
seems TO ne could be maintained at a
.ess expense than the nine schools
of the townships as now organized.
n place Of the little cherries school
1ouses. poorly equipped. 10 modern
hare one threeso- dye-
room building centrally located, with
IN up TO date SISTER OF heating, Esht-
ms. yentiiating and water supply.
Here there could be some inspiration
-or both teacher and pupils. Here
would De the stimulus, excitement and
I iereT that come from numbers.
aere would coma relief iron, the mon
'tony and loneliness of the teacher
nth her half dozen little children by
ne daily association with other teach
r. Here could daily come the re-
ring Influence c. music and sonr. /
Here would come the daiIv super !;
Ision- management and Inspection n
he principal OF the school The
rounds should include three or fonr
cres for reasons that your mind VIII
saeiiy suggest The school building
ouid easily become the social and
nEeilectual center Of The community.
aere could De public gatherings. leo
T-raS Sud ~as-----
20 one would be far fr7n ii in this
a. OF the automobile, ard in the era
1 good roads upon which Ne ferrenslv
ope We are entering
Away from the diversions az the
Own il wouid be an ideal place to Law
He foundations Of sturdy character,
atelloctual and physical strength and
sefui citizenship in the younr meu
nd women OF Iowa IN this direction
ne concensas Of opinion Of the CON.
erent rneH End women Who have Cir
= the subject earnest and SYSTEMATIC
tndy. lies the solution 10 a consider
bic decree OF both The country ana
arzl life problem This cannot he
roagHt a5out BY eompussio1 L fuIEy
sslize that I wish- however. that
Ian could BE- deTised ~ Yhic5 any,
o'TnshiD could voluntarily consolidate
er schools and that such Z plan
ould b enacted 5ato lam al his SEES.
ion u me toznsaip IS a unit. be
bought - - too large then . small
: teTy5tyTF ysgfass- 10 tsEa~ sc . S-s
q i seeaas 2 ne the township * rot
% larze OF eoErse regard aaoafd be
"a for the coarge Of rivers and
Sreanls trru11h townships.