The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-18
THE CoNsoLIDATED sCHooL.

Colorado has been hampered in tte
efforts to centralixe the rural schools
into strong, consolidated schools. be-
cause OF the small district organiza-
ton which prevails in that state. as in
most of the states in the west and
middle west. In spite of obstacles.
however, according to q most interest
ing and suggestive bulletin issued by
the United States bureau of education.
substantial progress has been made
for the upbuilding. In the open coun-
try, OF real community schools. There
Is, no better illustration Of this type
than the Cache La Poudre Consoli-
dated school, some six miles out from
Fort Collins.
Only afyear ago some six school
houses, scattered at random over q
very large territory, supplied 207
families with such school facilities as
were then available. Two of the
buildings were Of native stone, the
others of frame; they lacked modern
conveniences and were quite unable to
offer a modern training for agricul-
tural life. Now a large. digntfied,
central building, erected at a cost OF
$4,000, has absorbed all these out
lying schools and is rapidly becoming
the center of community pride and ag-
gressive community life. All this was
not done without a struggle. A great
many people here. as in other places.
chung tenaciously to the little local
school, fighting the change even in the
courts. The majority, however, ia
vored the change and had their way.
thanks particularly to the efforts Of
Mr.. C. g. Sargent. rural school visitor
from the State Agricultural college.
posed the plan now praise it the loud
est; and few, If any, would care to go
back to the old 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 its twelve
grades, forty-seven being in the well
equipped high school department:
eight teachers are employed, five in
the grades and three in the high
school. What appeals particularly to
an observer of the school work is that
while the universal elements Of a
broad education are taught the teach
ers are mindful that theirs is rural
community and that they are prepar-
ing Colorado farmers and fruit grow
ers 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 An acres
Of good, irrigated land. The play
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
5-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 grating.
The children are to have individual
garden plots. and home-garden work
has also been planned.
A good. one-room school house
which was already on the grounds has
been remodeled at a cost OF 500 into
q very satisfactory six-rOom cottage
for the principal of the school An
other one of the old buildings has been
made into a good barn and shed for
the horses and transportation equip
ment. The main building is an Inn
posing structure, built Of native sand
stone and pressed brick. It Is three
stories high and is equipped with
steam heat, fan-ventilating system,
and indoor toilets. baths. and bubbling
fountains.
The janitor lives with his family in
a suite Of five rooms in the basement.
which by the way. is built in such a
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 agricultural and biolog--
ical laboratories, good library, rest
rooms for the women teachers, and q
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 COM
munity school which strives to help
the parents as we'll as the children
Seven transportation wagons Of the
latest make convey 1853 children liv-
ing at a distance to and from school.
The system has proved a very satisfac-
tory one for all concerned. There is
no hardness with transportation; at
tendance Is at the maximum; and the
cost for transportation is . cents a day
per pupil
NEGLECTED THINGS.
We may as well face the fact that
= NJ