The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-05-14
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
BY Mabel Horner, County Supt.
Lower Country School Attendance
Where Roads Are Bad.


Census reports show that in 1909
there were 24,0O0,00u children IN
the United States of school age, but
that only 1880, 900 were enrolled
in the public schools. This would in
dictate that there are several mil
lion children who are deprived for
one reason or another, from obtain
ing an education. and there is no
doubt that a large number OF those
are prevented from attending school
in the country districts on account or
bad roads. Furthermore, many
schools in the country districts are
closed for varying periods on account
of the impossible condition OF the
roa DIS and many of the schools which
are not closed have nominal per-
centage Of attendance.
While it is true that various FAC
tors contribute to Increase or de-
crease the attendance at schools in
given sections of the country, 1t is
worthy of comment that in the states
having high percentage OF lmprOV-
ed roads, much larger percentage
of the students enrolled, regularly at
tend the schools than in the states
having a smaller percentage OF I'M
proved roads. In five eastern and
western states which have a large
mileage of improved roads, the aV-
erage attendance of enrolled pupils
in l90S-09 was 80 per cent while in
four southern states and one north
western state which are noted tor
bad roads, the average attendance
for the same year was Ct per cent
so ger cent in the good roads states
as against "a per cent in the bad
roads states. In the states first nam
ed. 81 per cent Of the roads have
been improved, while in the latter
group of states there are only / 12
per cent of the roads improved.
That improved roads would bene-
fit our country school system, there
would seem to be no doubt. lmprOV-
ed roads make it possible to CONSOLE
date or centralize the schools and to
establish graded schools in 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, commodious buildings have
been provided, more competent teach
ers have been employed, and modern
facilities for teaching have been sup
piled at minimum cost For in
stance, since the improvement of the
main highways in Durham county,
North Carolina, the number of school
houses have been reduced from IS
to AZ, OF which II are graded and
have two or more rooms, and en-
ploy two or more teachers.
nYn OF
about $500 consolidated rural
schools in the United States. 1t APP
pears that Massach usetts, Ohio and
gress along these lines, and it is
rather significant to note that in
these states about one-third of the
roads have been improved Accord
ing tc statistics of the Agricultural
1899, SEP, 116 in Massachusetts for
the conveyance Of pupils to CONSOLE
dated school, but in 1908 the expen-
diture for this purpose amounted to
$292,213. In Indiana, the expendi-
ture for this purpose in 1904 amount
ed to $4,000. while in 1908 $780,
900 was expended. This expenditure
for transportation reflects, in a gen.
eral way. the extent and progress of
this new educational movement 1t
must not be understood that this is
an additional burden, as the expendi-
ture thus made is saved in another
direction-that is by the decrease in
the number of schools and economy
in their operation.
In Indiana, Massachusetts,, Ohio
and other states, the One-room, one
teacher schools are being replaced
by central school houses, with a half
dozen rooms and as many teachers.
Wagons are sent out every day to
gather up the children and to take
them home again in the evening. All
the children within radius Of sever
al miles are thus provided with the
most modern school facilities. In
some Of these schools, courses in
manual training, agriculture and
home economics have been introduce
ed, scientific apparatus utilized and |
teachers having special qualifications |
and training mployed.-Bulletin |
from e. S Department of Agricul- |
tare, Washington, D. c.
!" Weather Crop Bulletin.