The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-10-22
THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR
RURAL SCHOOLS.
This Will Consist of Series of Arr
ticles Sent Out by the State
4. Department..

were more intensely interested in
rural school improvement than they
are at the present time, and there
has never been time when greater
progress has been made toward im-,
provement than during the paste
twelve months.
1t has long been recognized that
something is amiss in our ruraF'
schools; and practically always this
something has been summarized asi
young and poorly prepared teachers.
6dilapidated buildings, small enroll.
ment, poor attendance, little or no:
equipment, and lack of interest ON
the part Of patrons, 30
y As stated, people have long realize
ed that something should be done to-
Improve conditions; but the Ques-
ton has been, What shall we do?"
The reply comes from large major
+ ity of county superintendent, from,
nearly every state superintendent
and from the National Bureau Of,
Education; Consolidate"
Practically every person who has
given the matter of rural conditions
serious consideration and extended
investigation has reached the same
conclusion. They all recognize that
there are obstacles in the way, but
in most instances these obstacles are
not insurmountable If the proper
school spirit prevails. In other
words, where there is a will there
is way"
Many people labor under the err
fOpeous notion that consolidation Is
new thing, that it is a fad that
must soon die Out, and that it's sue
cess exists in the fancy Of q few who
are possessed of more enthusiasm
than good sense. To combat this
notion, we have the history of the
development of the system. First,
it Is not new, The first school of this
kind was started in the state OF Mas
sachusetts, as in every locality where
the system has been tried, there has
been a moderately slow but steady
growth. Beginning with one school
in the year 1869, the system has de-
veloped and spread to such an ex-
tent that, by the year 1889, Massa-
chusetts expended more than $22,-
900 in transportation of children to
school in wagons. BY the year 1899,
they were paying more than 1921
900 for the same purpose; and Dy
the year 1909, the amount had reach
cd sum of over 100000. During
the first twenty years, the expend1-
ture for transportation increased
from nothing in $4,000. During
the second twenty years, there was a
gain of more than $275,0O0. This
never would have been the case had
the schools that were first started
been d failure. The same progress
and development is indicated In re-
ports received from other states
e. This goes to substantiate the claim
that progress in the direction Of con-
:solidation has been Hpst rapid in
these communities wfiSs4 consolida-
.tion is best known. TO illustrate
through on experience in Sir own
.state, we need but to cite the history
of the development and growth of
sentiment in and about the school lo'
Gated at Marathon in Buena Vista
county. This consolidated district
was organized in 1902. For period
.of about five years, no other console
dated district was organized in that
vicinity. At the end of this period,
latter the people of the adjoining ter
ritory had watched the working OF
the system, where they had but to
cross the road to inquire as to the
satisfactory cor unsatisfactory condi-
lions, where they had but to examine
the tax receipt of a neighbor in or
sder to ascertain the comparative
cost; in such a community, and un-
.der such conditions, two other dis
tricts were organized, one at Webb
and the ;other in Garfield township,
Clay county. Before another two
years had passed, two other schools
had been organized in Buena Vista
county. at Newell and Truesdale.
During the past year, five additional
districts were organized, four on the
;bprders of the Webb4Garfield district
and one adjoining the Marathon dis
trict. located in Pocahontas county.
i repeat this never would have been
4the case had the schools first started
ibeen a failure.
This instance of growth and devel-
Oument Of sentiment favorable to-
consolidation is worthy of serious
consideration and study. During the
first five years the people OF the
.neighboring districts were sskeptical;
many felt that the new venture in the
Marathon district must result IN fail
3ure. Not only the people in the
neighboring districts, but the pat
rons within the borders of the dis
trict we're Of the same opinion. The
wiseacres shook their heads and men
reasoned, ut may be all right In,
some places but transportation can
( never succeed in Marathon, not with
our roads and our severe winters.
But it has been success in Mara
thon and in all Of the :neighboring
districts that have tried the plan.
Furthermore, at the present time
other, neighboring localities are CIV
ing the matter Of consolidation SER
sious consideration, and the end is
not yet.
when considering consolidation
there are always two questions that
stand first and foremost in the minds
Of ali honest inquirers: One is the
koti mn a