Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-28
COUNTIES TO HAVE
SCHOOL BOARDS
Suggestion Made by Rural Educa-
tion Survey Committee to the
State Association

Recommendation that the State
school laws be changed so that there
shall be a county unit of education
with a small county board of school
directors, is made in the survey of the
rural schools of Pennsylvania by a
special committee of the Pennsylvania
State Educational Association, which
begins its annual meeting here to-
morrow. The committee was named
at the meeting in Pittsburgh a year
ago and charged with the duty of MAX
ing study of the needs and condi-
tions of the rural schools, the initiative
being taken by DR.. Samuel Hamilton,
superintendent of the schools of Allie
gheny county. On the committee were
DR.. Nathan G.. Schaeffer, State Super
intendent of Public instruction; DR..
Raymond w. Sizes, University of Pitts
burgh; DR.. Harlan Updegraff, Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania; DR.. Louis f. Ra-
peer, State College; Professor NJ. G. T..
Minor, superintendent of LycominS
county schools, and Professor Frank
A. McClung, superintendent of Butler
county schools.
The committee divided up the survey
and had the assistance of u number
of educators, including men familiar
with rural conditions. The report will
likely be called to the attention of the
Legislature.
For County School Tax
The proposition for county school
board is one of q score of recommenda-
| tions and would empower the board
to levy a county school tax; to fix
boundaries of school districts regard
less of township lines; furnish the
supplies at expense of local boards
when they fail to do so promptly; elect
the county school superintendent and
his assistants and to have general SUI
\ fe.ss 20 Ia H..asass
throughout thes county.
In addition it is recommended that
the association appoint committees for
a thorough study of the three big
Observation-Disclosures of State school
funds, training of teachers for rural
schools and Standardization of tho
rural school plant.
First among recommendation is
one that the section of the school code
adding $5 per month to the minimum
salary "be made operative by the nee
essary appropriation" 1t is also rec
commended that the Legislature pro-
vide funds to pay the assistant county
superintendents and that country COM
missioners provide offices and stem
ographers for county superintendents.
To Give Special Aid
In regard to rural districts it is
recommended that special assistance
be given those unable to raise funds
to erect proper buildings and furnish
the required seven months term and
that State uniformity of taxation for
school purposes be considered. 1t is
also provided that the State appropria-
ton be withheld from districts which
do not have buildings In "a sanitary
condition.
Medical inspection is recommended
to be made obligatory i'll all rural dis
tricts and that wherever possible
school nurses be employed to visit
homes and secure proper medical at
tention.
The State is urged to bring its stand
ard plans for one, two and three-room
buildings to the attention of local
boards and commentator is given the
efforts to establish social centers In
rural schools Boards are urged to
organize night schools for foreigners
and it is suggested that programs for
teachers institutes be made moro
"helpfuI rather than entertaining"
Another idea is that all predictions OF
principals be subject to approval by
the country superintendent.
More Normal Schools
Normal schools are urged to pro-
vide courses on agriculture and i'm
provement of rural life; as we'll as
model one-room schools for observa-
ton and practice, increase facilities
for training teachers for rural schools.
and to establish schools in open coun-
try. More normal schools are also
urged
A larger appropriation is urged for
rural high schools teaching agricul-
ture and domestic science, and that
high schools be allowed to add post
graduate courses to train teachers foh
the country school work. The attep-
tion of the State is called to the ad.
vantage of Federal aid for agricul-
tural extension.
on compulsory education the ro-
port says: THE law should be fur
ther amended so as to reach mora
effectively the unemployed between IA
and 16 years of age, including the pro-
vision of attendance officers not mem
bers of school boards. and the re-
quirements that the employment cer-
tificates of children between the ages
named be returned Immediately to the
school authorities whenever employ
ment ceases"