The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1915-10-06
Consolidation of
Country Schools
Principal of Butterfield Public
Schools Writes of Virtues
of Consolidation

The object OF this series OF
articles is to set forth the adj
vantages in the consolidation of
schools; to set the readers, tax
payers, parents and friends of
the education of all the people,
to thinking.
By consolidation is meant the
union of two or more schools,
rural schools. In some places it
is called Capitalization, in 9TH
ers association or standardiza-
ton, but whatever you name it,
the good results it accomplishes
can hardly be overestimated.
The writer has full confidence
in consolidation, as have all peo-
pie who have tried it. He does
not say that you must CONSOLE
date with any definite school.
He leaves that to the taxpayers,
but he does urge consolidation.
If the reader has any preju-
dices, put them aside. Such a
vital issue as the education of
our coming generation, to pre-
pare for the battle of life, and
to give them a good working
foundation, must not be in
fluenced by the small prejudices.
"Civilization must advance in
spite of the mud"
Consolidation is for the adj
vantage of all-not only for the
present-and if you leave your
minds open to sound reasoning,
you will be as firm supporters
of the movement as the writer
is. He wishes the readers to
know that he has not been solic-
tied by any one, whatsoever, to
write on the subject. Any mo-
tives he has, he alone is respon-
sible.
The rural school is a laggard;
it has not kept pace with the
progress Of civilization and the
only solution of the rural school
system lies in a change Of sys-
consolidation. All that de-
lays the movement is lack of
initiative and willing leader to
push consolidation campaign.
Surely every district must have
one person in the community,
willing to do this for education.
Consolidation of schools is
neither a new idea nor an ex-
pertinent. The first consolida-
ton was affected in Quincy,
Mass, in 1874 and is now car
ried on in forty-one states. In
1913 Georgia had 100 consoli-
dated schools; Indiana over 600;
Louisiana 21O; Minnesota 90;
Mississippi more than It's;
North Dakota 271; Ohio 1872;
Oklahoma 81; Tennessee 10;
Texas 148; Virginia 1872 (1907 i
Washington 100; and in the 9TH
er states it was progressing rap
idly.
The education of the farm
boys and girls cannot be neg
lected without bringing final
ruin to the community and I'M
less we can give those children
an equal chance with their city
cousins, they will drift away
from the rural home into other
occupations before they have re-
ceived a fundamental education.
The success of consolidation in
the states given above shows
that the fundamental need of
the rural school has been solved.
People are not supporting the
movement as they should, be-
cause they do not understand
the conditions in the one-room
school, nor the advantages of
consolidation. Only the OBJ
stacles are seen, and those loom
ing up large are transportation,
cost and community prejudice.
The expense at first thought
seems great, but the many edu-
cational advantages and the gen.
erous state aid overcomes the
extra expense, and much in
saved in maintenance. There is
much misunderstanding regard
ing transportation and cost.
Remember this: "This exist
ing bonded indebtedness of a dis
trict is in no wise transferred
or otherwise affected by CONSOLE
dation or annexation. The coun-
ty auditor will continue to levy
for such bonded indebtedness
and interest on same against
the property upon which it was
originally secured. Neither does
the refunding of bonds in any
-o.1Jsf~v ILL.,