Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-15
RURAL COMMUNITIES
WOULD Be BENEFITED
BY CONSOLIDATION
OF SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION
is GROWING.
CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF
ADVANTAGES GAINED
School Ground and Equipment are
of the Latest and Best
Types.

With the advent of good roads in
most Of the rural communities OF the
country comes the consolidation of
che schools in those communities. Con-
solidation is proving to be the best
cheapest and most progressive way II
CG'.cating the youth of the land While
there are examples o. consolijltlCn
nearer home yet there is school in
Colorado known as the Cache la
fo utre Consolidated School that WI
serve as a good example of what may
be done when the schools of the town
ship or particular district are brought
together under one roof. This school
is located out about six miles from
the town of Fort Collins.
Only year ago some school
houses, scattered at random over
very large territory, supplied 207 fam
lilies with such school facilities as were
then available. Two OF the buildings
were of native stone, the others of
frame; they lacked modern conven-
fences and We're quite unable TO offer
a modern training for agricultural
life. Now a large, dignifiied, central
building, erected at a cost of S35, 900,
has absorbed all these outlying schools
ard is rapidly becoming the center of
the community pride and aggressive
community life. All this was not done
without struggle. A great many peo-
pie here, as in other places, clung ten
aciously to the little local school, fight
ing the change even in the courts. The
ma jority, however, favored the change
and had their way, thanks particularly
fC the efforts of Mr.. G. G.. Sargent,
rural school visitor from the State
Agricultural College. Many Of the
people who originally opposed the plan
cow praise 1t the loudest; and few.
f any, would care to go back To the
cd conditions
Four entire districts and parts Of
two others comprise the new, CONSOLE
dated district; 207 families live within
reach OF the new school; 266 pupils
are at this time enrolled in it's II
grades, AZ being in the well-equipped
Eigh-school department; teachers
are employed. 8 in the grades and
in the high schools. What appeals
particularly to an observer of the
school work is that while the universal
elements of a broad education are
taught the teachers are mindful that
theirs is a rural community and that
they are preparing Colorado farmers
and fruit growers for life work.
With this in mind, they are doing
everything in their power TO root the
school work TO the soil.
The buildings are set in 4 IL acres
- Ia NJ hn nla
ground is ample for all purposes.
There are baseball and football fields,
tennis courts and play room for the
younger children. A small orchard
of year-old trees forms the beginning
of an excellent experimental plot. With
the opening of spring there is a plan
to begin work in budding and graft
ing. The children are to have indivi-
dual garden plots, and home garden
work has also been planned
A good, one-room schoolhouse which
was already on the grounds has been
remodeled at a cost of 500 into a
very satisfactory six room cottage for
the principal of the school. Another
one Of the old buildings has been
made into a good barn and shed for
the horses ana transportation equip
ment. The main building is an inn
posing structure, built of native sand
stone and pressed brick. 1t is three
stories high and is equipped with
steam heat. an-ventilating system,
and indoor toilets, baths, and bubbling
fountains.
The janitor lives with his family in
a suite Of five rooms I'm the basement
which by the way, is built I'm such
manner that it's cement floors are one
and a half feet higher than the grade
OF the school yard. The building is
supplied with the agricultural and
biological laboratories. good library,
rest rooms for the women teachers,
and large assembly room used.
among other things, for community
meetings and farm lecture courses,
which are being held throughout the
year; for. beyond everything else. this
is a community school which strives
to help the parents as well as the
children.