The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-22
BAD ROADS
A DRAWBACK
TO EDUCATION
School Attendance Better in.
Good Roads States, Ac-
cordinq to Census.


WAsEBENGTON, d. O.. April "a
Census reports show that in 1913
there were 24.OOO.00Oj children in
the United States Of school age, but
that only 1855 90, 900 were enrolled
In the public schools. This
would indicate that there. are several
million children who are deprived,
for one reason or another, from OBJ
tanning an education, and there IS
no .ioubt that large number OF
those are prevented from attending
school on account of sbad 7eroaas.
many schools IN inc
country districts are closed for vary
ing periods on account iof the impas-
sable condition Of tneG roads, and
many OF the schools which are not
closed have a nominal percentage OF
While 1t is true that various rae
tors contribute to increase or de-
crease the attendance at schools IN
given sections of the country, 1t Is
worthy of comment thatin the states
having a big percentage. OF improved
roads much larger percentage OF
the students enrolled, regularly az
tend the schools than in the states
having q small percentage OF 5mproN
age of improved roads, the average
attendance OF enrolled pupils n
19O8-9 was 80 per cent, wntle IN
four southern states and one Anoftp-
western state which are noted z, tor
bad roads, the average attsndaAee
for the same year Was Ga ri cen ~
30 per cent In the good roads states
AZ against Ga per cent in the baa
roads states. In the states taIs "
nan1ed, SIS per cent OF the roa 'Es
have been improved, while. in the lat lat
ter group OF states there are Z OILY ls
liz per cent of the roads improvea
That improved roads would Abenent
our country school system, there
would seem to be no doubt. Improved
roads make it possible to. consolidate
or centralize the schools and to es-
tal1lish graded schools I'm the rural
districts. Such schools centrally To-
Gated will accommodate all OF the
children within a radius OF from four
to five miles. In many communities
having the advantage of improved
roads. commodfous buildings have
been provided, more competent teach
ers have been employed. and modern
facilities for teaching have been sup
Piled at a minimum cost For instance,
since the Improvement Of the main
the number OF school houses have
been reduced from .sixty-fxe to forty
two. of which seventeen are graded
and have two OF more rooms, and en-
ploy two or. more teachers.
Economy. In Schools.
There are at the present time about
1000 consolidated rural schools In the
United states. It appears that Mass
achusetts, Ohio and Indiana have made
the greatest progress along these
lines, and it is rather ssign1hcant 70
note that in these states about one
third OF the roads have been I'M
proved. According to satisfies OF the
Agricultural Department. there was
eYnended in 1899, S22,116 in Mass
achusetts for the conveyance OF pu-
nils to consolidated schools, but in
1908 the expenditure for this purpose
amounted to 1892 ,213. InIndiana, the
expenditure for this purpose in 19O4
amounted t6| $50, 600, while in 1908
$3.50: 600 was expended. This expen-
5iture for reflects, IN
general way, the extent and progress
OF this new educationalf movement
It must not be understood that this IS
an educational burden, as the expen-
diture thus made is saved IN other
directions-that is by the decrease
in the number of schools and economy
in their operation.
In Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio and
other states, the one-rooIn, one
teacher schools are being replaced by
central schoolho uses, with 9 hall
dozen rooms and as many teachers.
Wagons are sent out every day 70
gather up the children and to take
them home again in the evening. AIS
OF the children within radius of sew
-