The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-04-17

Washington d. c., April 17.-Cen-
sus reports show that in 1909 there
were $4,000, 900 children in the United
States of school age, but that only
II, SOC, 900 were enrolled in the public
schools. This would indicate that
there are several million children who
are deprived, for one reason or an
other, from obtaining an education,
and there is no doubt that large
number of those are prevented from
attending school on account of bad
roads. Furthermore. many schools in
the country districts are closed for
varying periods on account of the i'm
passable condition of the roads, and
many of the schools which are not
closed have a nominal percentage OF
attendance.
While it is true that various fac
tors contribute to increase or decrease
the attendance at schools in given sec
| lions of the country, it is worthy OF
comment that in the states. having
high percentage of improved roads,
much larger percentage of the stu
dents 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 i'm
proved roads, the average attendance
of enrolled pupils in 190S-9 was so
per cent; while in four southern states
and one northwestern state which are
noted for bad roads, the average at
tendance for the same year was "a per
cent-S0 per cent in the good roads
states as against Ga per cent in the
bad road states. In the states hrst
named IS 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.
Capitalization Made Possible.
That improved roads would benefit
our country school system, there
would seem to be no doubt. Improved
roads make It possible to consolidate
or centralize the schools and to estab-
fish graded schools in the rural dis
tricts. Such schools centrally located
will accommodate all of the scholdren
within a radius of from four to five
miles. In many communities having
the advantage of improved roads, COM
modious buildings have been provid-
ed, more competent teachers have
been employed, and modern facilities
for teaching have been supplied at a
minimum cost. For instance, since
the improvement of the main high
ways in Durham County, North Caro-
lima. the number of schoolhouses have
been reduced from 65 to AZ, of which
II are graded and have two or more
rooms, and employ two or more teach
ers.
There are at the present time about
1000 consolidated rural schools In the
United States. 1t appears that Massa-
Ohio and Indiana have made
the greatest progress along these
lines, and it is rather significant to
note that in these states about one
third of the roads have been improved.
According to statistics or the Agricul-
tural Department, there was expended
in 1899, $22,116 in Massachusetts, for !
the conveyance of pupils to consolidate !
ed schools, but in 1908 the expendi- |
ture for this purpose amounted to
s292,213. In Indiana, the expenditure
FOR this purpose in 1904 amounted to
$50, 900, while in 1908, $29O.00O was
expended. This expenditure for trans
reflects, in general way,
he extent and progress of this new
movement. 1t must not
,e understood that this is an addition
Il burden, as the expenditure thus
made is saved in other directions
hat is by the decrease in the number
# schools and economy in their oper-
Ition. i
one-Room School Abandoned.
In Indiana, Massachusetts, Ohio and
ther states, the, one-room, one-teacher
chools are being replaced by central
with half-dozen rooms
nd as manly teachers. Wagons are |
ent out every day to gather up the
q