Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-06


discussion. In general, belief IN the more
extended and practical use Of the
school plant for social, recreational
educational purposes Is gaining ground
In city and rural communities. There
are two laws relating to state aid and
both working WE'LL NThe normal train
ing work In high schools is making
progress. In regard to the solution OF
the rural school problem, he said:
THE solution Of the rural school
problem, as well as that of the village
and small towns, depends upon estab-
fishing larger taxing areas by CONSOLE
dation of schools. The consolidation Of
schools has been agitated In Iowa for
years. Prior to April. 1918. only
eighteen Of these schools had been es-
tablished in the state. Since April,
1918. about sixty new consolidated
districts have been organized. 1t has
been found that school corporations
will increase their taxes more willingly
for the support OF the schools when the
state offers financial assistance. No
expenditure by the state will contrib
ute more, excessively toSa Greater Iowa.
Good schools and good roads touch the
very home and community life of the
people. 80
Great changes have taken place in
rural community life conditions during
the past forty years. The invention
Of labor saving machinery has made
the farmer less dependent upon his
neighbors and has encouraged the
making of larger farms. The cooper
alton and sociability Of pioneer days
has given way to the Independence
that has come with improved mechan-
ical devices for the farmers use. Far
mers do not change work as they did
in years past. Neighborhood working
bees are not common Even the one
room school house is used only as a
place for the small children to attend.
The rural school of the past no longer
serves as recreational and educa-
tional center where the young people
and adults come together at debating
societies and spelling matches. Pupils
drop out Of school too early in life. In
the rush to add acres to the farm, bet
ter farming and better living have not
received merited consideration. The
telephone, the daily delivery of the
newspaper, and the automobile have
greatly widened the horizon of country
life environment. With the reorgan-
ization Of rural, village, and small
town schools to provide advantages
for the country youth equal to those
provided In larger towns and cities,
and with restoration of distinctively
community social and recreational ac-
tivities, country life can be made
IDEAL
As to Agriculture.
Specific reference was made to the
consolidation movement. and its results.
Reference was made to the proposed
teachers pensions and to the changes
in the law for securing better super
visions of schools, and in conclusion:
1.-The study of improved farming
should include in it's broader sense the
cultural side as we'll as the economical
side of agriculture. The economic
phase of the study is narrow and SIM
ply means get more money with which
to buy more land. The cultural and
ethical side would add to the mere mat
ter of financial profit, the elevation OF
the standard of living of the farmer. 1T
is perfectly proper. almost imperative.
that the farmer of today whose land
has so greatly advanced in price learn
to raise two bushels Of corn where
only one may have been raised before,
in order to make profit on his in
vestment But home life, at its best.
should be the matter Of paramount i'm
portanceilto be sought rather than to-
add more acres to the farm. Such a
view OF better farming means the edi-
fication OF the family. Let us not for
get that there is satisfaction in the
study of a good book as well as in the
study Of good ear of corn and thus
exalt life on the farm. Education
should help our youth to take up the
responsibilities Of life more clearly. to
realize its meaning more fully and to
feel the dignity of it more deeply