Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-18

1 Editor Times Republican: In regard
to the consolidated school question at
Liscomb, the certain bachelor who IL
| credited with having done all that has
been done and about the only one
! against the proposition submits re-
monstrance signed by all but two of the
electors of the three districts affected.
There have been so many misstate-
ments made and practically all the
agitation in favor OF the consolidated
school has eminated from the towns
and villages that an Investigation ~
Its merits should be made by the rural
community affected. and since this Ger.
tain bachelor has made the investiga-
ton and has told the facts as they
exist. he Is made the scapegoat. The
petition for consolidation includes
about thirteen sections outside the
Liscomb school district yet of the
sixty-two signers Of that petition only
four reside within the thirteen sections
and one Of these did not know what
he was signing or he would not have
done so.
When the statement is made that the
children will be taken from their home
to school in all cases by the school
bus we are entitled to correct it.
Under section No. 27,940 we find that
If the school board in their judgment
sees fit on account of bad roads or too
great distance for the bus to go they
can compel the parents or guardian to
transport their charges not to exceed
a distance of two miles to a point
where they can have the opportunity
Of waiting in the cold or inclement
weather for the bus, or If they are
few minutes late either transport them
all the way or return home Some
children are known to start on their
ride to school at a. m. If some of
those living in the villages had to get
their children ready for school four
or five miles away returning about 6
.. M. do not think they would be so
ready to sign the petition either.
In regard to comparing the morality
Of each there is no question. If the
court records Of Marshall county are
Investigated 1t would be found that
practically oil of our criminal cases
c me from the towns and villages and
none from the country. We remember
some of the scandals which have emil
mated from some Of the high schools
Of this county.
When We Investigate the school adj
vantages OF our great men both poll
ideally anu AlAdNCldlly we AIu lACA sAA-
| vantage to be inferior to the poorest
furnished to any in this county. For
| examples of each class, cite Abraham
Lincoln and Woolworth. Wherever we
go we find the men who occupy the
highest position in that community, al
| most invariably obtained their educa-
ton in the little red school house which
has been tho pride of this nation. What
we want is an education for efficiency
and whenever our villages can prove
their superiority by their works then
they can be excused in taking the initia-
tive. The stability Of our nation de-
ponds upon our rural population. The
cry during the last few years has been
| "back to the farm" and If that Is desir-
able why send the children away to the
| town to be educated when the most
efficient are found to have been edu-
Gated in the country school.
The statement has been made so
often that children can be hauled
to centralized school and educated as
| cheaply as in the rural school and that
! the only additional expense rs for en-
/ larging the school house. The facts are
I that when we come to make COMPARE
sons we find that it costs from three
| and ,one-half to two and one-half times
as much for the teacher and contingent
\ funds. In comparing the consolidated
school Of Albion with the Liscomb