The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-11-05
R. ]. CHRISTIAN OBJECTS
TO CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS

The following communication from
the pen of r. j. Christian, one of the
big flat farmers, is given place in the
Pioneer purely from the standpoint of
allowing anyone to discuss public ques-
tions, when such articles are signed.
The Pioneer disavows any feeling in
the matter, but the criticisms of Mr..
Christian are of such nature as to re-
quire notice. He writes:
Editor Pioneer:
Before the people of this district are
definitely committed to the principle of
the consolidated school system, it may
be we'll that some consideration be
given to the advantages or dsadvan-
tages of the same.
1t is admitted that the consolidated
school is a good thing for the older
children. For beginners and children
of tender years, so much cannot be
said. The consolidation of the schools
seems to be fad with the present
school administration. believe a
large majority of the people of this
district are opposed to it. If vote
was taken it would undoubtedly be de-
feated by an overwhelming majority.
Our present school trustees are en-
deavoring to force this system upon
this district. These gentlemen seem
to have but one idea on school ques-
tions and that is to establish the con-
solidated school system. Every other
consideration is cast aside in favor of
it. They do not consider whether the
people want it. They do not consider
whether it is workable in the district
or not. Supt. Logan even has the
audacity to say that they do not con-
slider the wishes of the majority of the
people in school matters. The meet
ings of the board, which the public is
entitled to attend, are held secretly.
No announcement is made as to when
or where the meetings take place.
While the consolidated school may
give satisfaction in old settled districts,
so far as it has been tried here, it is
not satisfactory, nor is it likely to be
for some years to come. The settlers
are too scattered and the routes too
long to haul the children. 1t is i'm
possible to send young children to
school in cold weather. Some of the
routes are seven or eight miles in
length. 1t is nothing less than Grim
inal to compel young children to leave
their homes before Z a. m. and ride the
long journey in a cold wagon. After
such an exposure, besides being in
furious to their health, it is obvious
that the children are not in fit condition
to undergo the grind of school work.
The long ride in the wagon without
surveillance cannot be anything but
harmful to the children. In some in
stances people are leaving the district
rather than have their children trans
ported to school in these wagons. Some
OF the wagons are driven by mere
school boys. The trustees say they
cannot get responsible drivers. That
is another argument why the system is
a failure. Not child should be al
lowed to ride in the wagons unless they
are driven by responsible persons. 1t
may be safely assumed that not one of
the gentlemen who are so blindly per-
sistent in forcing the consolidated
school system on this district would
permit their own children to be punched
in these wagons without anyone to keep
control. Every school day scores of
children's lives are placed in jeopardy
by riding in these wagons. The one
room school house has not yet outlived
its usefulness, and if the people of the
district are alive to the interests of
their children they will see to it that it
is still maintained.
Each school wagon represents the up-
keep of small school that could be
maintained in localities convenient to
the children. The people are willing
to build these small schools, but the
board has intimated that they would
not provide teachers for them.
To lay out the wagon routes requires
considerable tact, certainly more tact
than displayed by Supt Logan in the
matter Under his administration,
wagon routes are manipulated, pre-
sumably to serve certain interests,
Here is one case in point: Last year a
wagon was run north from Elliott
school. This year the people were sur
prised to see notice in the press, in
connection with the bids for transpor-
tation of the children which read:
"Wagon run north from Elliott school
this year routed to Leon." No notice
was given to the people interested that
the route was to be changed. The
Leon route is much longer for the ma
jority of the children. To make up a
complement for the wagon on the Leon
route, children living within two mil9s
Of Elliott were included, while children
living within three or four miles of
Elliott school are left without trans
portation. Neither the welfare of the
children nor the wishes of the parents
were considered. The one desire seems
to have been to run the wagon to Leon
regardless of whether the children were
accommodated or not. If the wagons
are not run to accommodate the vo,np
children, then it is a needless eXpense
to run them at all.