The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-11-05
consolidated schools. In taking a


tee does not take the position that
the rural school may not be improv-
ed by other means. We are in hearty
sympathy with every movement that
tends to improve conditions in these
schools under our present system or
organization, and we realize that
much may be done to make the one
room school better
In advocating consolidation as a
means of improving rural school con-
ditions, we turn from means OF
making them better to a means OF
making the best. In the districts al
ready organized we find an awaken
ed school interest The patrons are
alert, and the school board is ION
the job" Better equipment is pro-
vided, and better teachers employed,
adequate supervision is provided, at
tendance is regular and provision is
made for giving instruction in domes-
tic science, manual training and agri-
culture.
Since the passage of the law giving
state aid to this class of schools (31
G. A., CHI 250), their number has in
creased four fold, and today we have
more than eighty such schools in the
state Not all Of these districts have
completed arrangements for Operat-
ing as consolidated schools, but
enough have done so to demonstrate
the feasibility Of transporting pupils
to and from school in any part of the
state, and the schools are successful
to degree that is remarkable.
10 Ii ich n
the people have neatly always given
them en- lhusiastic support. School
boards are holding meetings and dis
cussing school problems at other
times than the annual meeting. They
are paying salaries that will secure
good teachers, while supelin teldents
who give evidence of being superior
snen are receiving such conversation
rs will warrant their continuing in
the work.
The average daily attendance in
Iowa last year, based on enrolment
in the rural schools was 71.9. In
town schools it was 1871, and in con-
solidated schools is was 80 per cent.
This is evidence that when child:en
in rural community ale given tie
teEd Excellent school spirit may be
secui ed in other school districts, new
buildings may be erected and equip
ped, supervision may be bolste' ed up
and good teachers employed, but the
only way to get the boys into school
in such numbers that classes may be
of size that will insure life and in
spiration in school work is through
consolidation.
II the consolidated schools now or
yanized meet the requirements for
state aid, the sum appropriated for
these schools will be insufficient to
meet the demand, and we would re-
commend that the next General AS
preparation to an amount that will
e sufficient to insure the aid that
has been promised to these schools.
The sum schould be not less than
$125.OOO. We would further recon-
mend that the limit of taxation for
the general fund in these consolidat-
ed districts be increased from 1872
.o1 each person of school age, as
provided in Section 2794-a1, to not
less than $45, which would be equal
to the amount that may be levied fOl
teac hers and contingent funds and
for transportation purposes in other
school corporations. There is no
good reason for placing the mini
mum of taxation lower in consolidat-
ed districts than in other districts.
1t must be remembered that the
problem of consolidated schools is
elcsely related to the problem of
transportation and improved roads.
In practically every consolidated dis
trict that has been organized better
roads have followed. consolidated
schools without means of transporta-
ton would be of little benefit to- the
people of the state.
2. To Great an interest, to arouse
public sentiment, and to encourage
the improvement of our schools and
school conditions, we recommend the
of the rural schools
in Iowa as now organized. The de-
tails of the plan ought to be deter
mined by the superintendent of pub
lie instruction and put into operation
by the state rural inspector cO-jOint-
ly with the county superintendent.
The schools of each county should be
rated according to this standard,
which should include the physical
condition of the school, also the or
ganization, the teachers and the