Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-04-30
Consolidation of Schools.

Dear Editor-I noticed an article in
the REGISTER sometime ago concern
ing the consolidation of two or three
schools in the west end of our county.
After reading it, ! thought I would
send in my view toward consolidation,
not only in Iron county, but all South
east Missouri. I have been thinking
a great deal on this subject and how
it could be accomplished.
Perhaps this may seem vague sub
ject to some of our readers, but we
will try to make it clear by telling
what consolidation really is and now
it may be maintained
First, we will take up the meaning
of consolidate. By consolidation is
meanb the uniting Of two or more
small and weak schools into one, large
enough in point of members to be in
teresting, and strong enough in the
way of money to afford comfortable
building, two or more good teachers,
and reasonable facilities for work.
1t also means that outlying territory
with but few children shall be COM
bined with near by school which is
strong rather than remain organized
Independently as weak district. In
the fullest sense, it means the unit
ing of all the schools Of a township
into one or two 30 located as to be
accessible, though not necessarily at
the geographic center.
Consolidation, either in full or in
part, means the transportation of a
portion of the pupils, and this is one
of it's problems. But it is easily ac-
complished in artifcially warmed,
covered wagon, holding fifteen or
twenty children, and driven by.relia-
BILE men. At first thought this would
seem expensive, but experience has
shown that this is not 30 difficult, for
it is cheaper to transport few chill
dren than to establish a school for
them; wagon is cheaper than a
school house; horses cheaper than
fuel, and drivers cost less than school
teachers.
will here give some statistical re-
ports of the cost of transportation in
Vermont. The state transports 1861
pupils at a cost of $36, 1000 per term, or
a little less than $4.71 for each child.
This is report Of few years back
and times have improved the trans
portation facilities and now the cost
will be lighter. We deliver mail so
why can't we deliver pupils as well.
All of this has been tried and prov
ed satisfactorily in Iowa, Ohio, In
diana, and in part of Missouri, and
1 am sure it will work in Southeast
Missouri, or in our own Iron county
In looking up a report we found con-
solidation to begin 1869 in Massa-
chusetts. tt is now in operation ir
twenty different states. The first one
in Illinois began in 1904 and nov
there are many.
know Of many schools in our state
where the average attendance is be-
low Is. But these schools must have
teacher just the same as schoo
, where the average is high. or cours'
they cannot obtains a teacher for bu
little less than the school with tn
: high attendance. What teache
! wants to teach where the average |
/. soNlow? There will be only one clas
, of teachers who will teach there, pro
vided they can not obtain bette
} grade school. This class is the In
experienced teachers holding thir
\ grade certificate. The Missouri Super
] intendent's report for 1902 show
: more than one fourth Of all the school
OF this state have fewer than 20 pupil
r and 575 have fewer than 10. SO
y feel that it is time for us to wax
y lup and devise some way to strength