The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-10-22
and Improvement. An automobile
was purchased with the result that

was purchased WIN the result tHaI
today she is not only in favor OF the
automobile when In the hands Of an
experienced driver, but she is not
afraid to ride in the cat to- the ladies'
Aid or other church gathering, guild
ed by no other person than her own
son who is under the legal age of fif-
teen years. Her auto experience is
similar to that of many a mother
whose dread of dire consequences
was associated with transportation,
but, with actual experience, the
dread and horror of it all disappear
ed, and today she wonders why she
was ever afraid.
We can we'll sympathize with the
mother who worries because her lit
tie one must ride long distance to
school, and we wish that it were not
necessary to incorporate transporta-
ton into our rural school system, but
we may as we'll accept the facts and
face the conditions. We cannot have
better rural schools until we bring
the boys and girls attending these
schools together in larger classes and
, under more favorable conditions.
The homes. in rural communities
are much scattered, and by no NOV.
ing Of the magic wand or the rubbing
! Of Aladdin's lamp can these children
be brought together. The condition
is real, the remedy must be the same.
In order to increase the number OF
pa pfls in attendance at these schools,
the districts must be made larger. If
this is Aone, the pupils cannot walk,
ia
is just one thing to do, and that Is
to transport them, and the only pres
ent available method seems to be by
means of wagons. And why not?
The children enjoy u; and, if we
compare those that must take the
longest ride with those that must
walk the farthest under our present
system, the suffering is less, We
know of instances where children
have choice of walking mile and
three-quarters or of riding six miles
and quarter, and these children
have decided in favor of the ride.
This is particularly true in disagree
able weather and stormy weather;
the kind of weather when children
must suffer, If at all, no matter what
the means of reaching the school.
AS to the cost, it will vary with.
communities and conditions. The
school at Terril in Dickinson coun-
ty has been taxing itself twelve and
six-tenths mills for school purposes.
This amount was less than the tax
in any other township or school cor
poration in Dickinson county. While
this was the cost at Terril, the school
=, , Ton,
miles distant, was taxing itself more
than thirty-two mills for the same
purpose. Both districts had good
schools, and the patrons of both dis
tricts were. satisfied.
It is needless to say that the school
at Milford is far superior to that of
Terril. Not only are the people liv-
ing within: the district satisfied, but
they have won a reputation that has
resulted in their attracting many pu-
pills from adjoining districts. Last
year they received more than $500
in tuition from adjoining territory.
Since the law was passed by the
Thirty-fifth General Assembly giving
state aid to these schools, many new
consolidated districts have been or
ganized, and, the number OF such
schools in the state has almost doub-
led. New districts have been organ
lied. in Clay, Dickinson, Humboldt,
Wright, Hardin, Marshall Fayette,
Shelby, and other counties, and many
other communities are considering
such movement. The change means
much for our state in general and
for our rural communities in particu-
Ir,p y ~ y Z Il Z 49,.