The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-11-19
Much More Satisfactory to Transport
Children Than Have Them Walk
Short Distance

some interest your letters pertain
ing 20 consolidated schools. written py
people who are for or against the
movement. II occurs TO me that pos
sibiy the testimony OF district that
had tried consolidation might be OF
some interest IN view of the agitation
in your county.
This consolidation comprises eight
former districts. has an assessed waltz
alton OF nearly sT00.Oeo. a sSo,0eo
school plant. about two-hundred fifty
pupils. ten teachers. eight routes for
the transportation of children and
maintains fun high school courses.
There Is no question here about the
feasibility and desirability of the con-
solidated school now, although there
was much opposition two years ago
when the consolidation was effected.
Contrary TO the opinion OF many
people here at that time, transporta-
ton of pupils has not proven to be an
obstacle although general conditions
Of roads and topography OF the coun-
try are difficult. The general verdict
here is that II is much more salts
factory TO transport children than 10
have them walk even short distances.
II is true that taxes arc increased
and only people who desire more and
better education for their children
should he in favor of the consolidated
school. This district Is dedicated TO the
proposition that country children are
entitled to Just as much and just as
good education as their more fortu-
nately situated city and town Cousins
and TO the proposition that II is better
TO have boys and girls at home during
the critical age when high school
courses are studied. The rate OF spe-
cial tax here last year was ll.2 mills,
will be a little higher this year. pos
sibly thirteen mills. and will be over
thereafter
Cleveland is but eighteen miles
from Mankato. Many Blue Earth county
people have been TO see the school and
we welcome your inspection An ap-
pOncnt to consolidation said In one OF
his letters that thorough investigation
should be made and that is q good sug
gestiOn. Most OF the opposition Is
founded on ignorance OF the working
Of the scheme or opposition TO edu-
cation. | was somewhat amused at the
statement that the Associated School
Boards of Minneapolis had found only |
two out OF FIVE hundred high school
graduates who had gained anything |
from their high school course. am
wondering who the Associated School
Boards of Minneapolis" may be.
Assistant Superintendent. b. b
Jackson Of the Minneapolis schools
made a survey TO ascertain the value |
OF high school education in dollars |
and cents. Taking as many cases as |
he could get specific data on and he |
found several hundred. he found this |
to be trHe-the average yearly wage |
Of the ureducated laborer was $500. In |
forty years he earns $4,000. For the |
high school graduate the average |
yearly wage Vas $1,000 and In forty |
years he earns $4,000 II costs s2.169
to put a child through the ~ years of |
school and graduate him from the high |
school. II Is simple matter of arith |
metic TO figure that every day in school
means SO per day for the child. II |
seems that the man who keeps his |
child out of school is a poor financier |
for his child.-Sincerely. G. w. Knox. |
Superintendent of schools.
Testimony From Another Source.
Grand Rapids. November 10, 1915. |
AIR. J. K. Osgood, Garden. City, |
MINI. Dear Mr.. Osgood: Reply
ing TO your letter OF November 5 |
will say school taxes in all the large |
districts in this county have been on
Ia /
eight years. but this is not due to |
consolidation. II Is more directly due /
to the fact that the territory mp here |
is opening np 80 rapidly and the dif- |
fCulty OF providing schools for the 1
incoming settlers is such that the /
cost OF education has grown very /
perceptibly. For instance, In the dis |
trict over which ! preside. we have
schools run nine months during the |
year where only five or six children |
are in attendance. II Is absolutely |
necessary 10 run these schools or al |
low the children TO go uneducated as |
many of them live so far from other |
schools as TO make transportation |
impossible. .. .fH. So. -.
To show you how we'll the people |
In this district like consolidation vii, |
say that ct the last annual meeting |
the demand for consolidation was |
greater than We could" take care OF |
this year and the people voted a levy |
OF $4,000 for the construction OF |
three two-room consolidated schools |
and additions on two other schools |
to make them conform TO the de- |
mands for consolidation. We have |
organized three new consolidated |
centers this year and the people are
delighted with them and would no.
return to the old one room school un-
der any circumstances. II does cost
more TO run consolidated school.
But I'm most Instances the added eff
ficiency under the consolidated pro-
gram more than Offsets the extra ex-
pense OF running the schools. We
find that IL unifies the people In con-
solidated centers and brings about a
community spirit impossible under |
the old system.
II Is my opinion after a residence
of nearly twelve years In this county
that the cost OF education due to the
rapid development OF die county is
bound to increase When came
here the school tax was nine or ten
mills but the rural settlers were
given schools in only part of the
county part Of the time and little or
no attempt was made to see that all