The Marshall republican. [volume] (Marshall, Saline County, Mo.) 1899-1914, 1914-05-08
COUNTRY SCHOOL.
ATTENDANCE.

hIIcNUhVUC
While II is true that various factors
contribute to increase or decrease the
attendance ut schools in given sec
tions Of the country, IL is worthy OF
comment that in the States having a
high percentage of improved roads n
much larger percentage of the stud
ents enrolled regularly attend the
schools than in the states having a
small percentage OF improved roads.
In five eastern and western states,
which have large mileage OF inn
proved roads, the average attendance
OF enrolled pupils in i00S-9 was so
per cent. while In four southern states
and one northern state, which are
noted for bad roads. the average at
tendance for the same year was 60
per oent-SO per cent In the good
roads states as against Ga per cent in
the bad roads states. In the states
first named SO per cent of the roads
have been improved. while In the
latter group of states there are only
| Il per cent of the roads improved.
That improved roads would benefit
our country school system there
would seem to be no doubt. Improv-
ed roads make II possible TO consoll-
date or centralize the schools and to
establish graded schools In the rural
districts. Such schools centrally To-
Gated will accommodate all of the
children within n radius of from I to
8 miles. In many communities hav-
Ing the advantage of improved roads
commodious buildings have been
provided. more competent teachers
have been employed. and modern fac
ilities for teaching have been supplied
at n minimum cost. For instance.
since the Improvement of the main
highways in Durham county. y. c..
the number OF schooi-houses have
been reduced from 90 TO az. OF which
| ~ u' fiau'u ahh HhN'H' H'"o VI hoi'
rooms and employ two or more teach
ers.
Thero are at the present time
about 1900 consolidated rural scho-
OILS In the United States. II appears
that Massachusetts,. Ohio and Indiana
nave made the greatest progress al
ong these lines, and Il Is rather sig.
nliicant TO note that In these states
about one-third OF the roads have
been improved. According to statis-
ties OF the Agricultural Department
there was expended In 1899. S22,1lG
In Massachusetts, tor the conveyance
OF pupils 10 consolidated schools. but
In 1908 the expenditure FOR this pur-
pose amounted to S292.2l3. In In
diana the cxendlture for this purpose
In 1904 amounted TO $4,000, while
In 1905, S29O.0O0 was expended. This
expenditure for transportation re.
fleets. In general way, the extent
and progress OF this new educational
movement, II must not be under.
stood that this is an additional bur,
den. as the expenditure thus made Il
saved in other directions; that Is, by
the decrease In the number OF school,
and economy in their operation.
In Indiana. Massachusetts,. Ohio
and other states the one-room, one,
teacher schools are being replaced by
central sohoolhouses, with a half-doz
en- rooms and as many teachers
Wagons are sent out every day tc
gather up the children and to TAX,
them home again In the evening. Al
OF the children within radius OF sew
eral miles are thus provided with tn,
most modern school facilities. IL
some of these schools courses in man
ual training, agriculture, and hom,
economics have been introduced, sci
entific apparatus utilized. and teach
ers having special qualifications anC
training emnloyed.