The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-01-01
WILSON
TELLS OF
PROGRESS
STATE SUPERINTENDENT
SCHOOLS ISSUES INTER
ESTING DATA

Il increasing in all sections OF OKLA
homa. The school authorities are
interested in these schools. In the
report OF State Superintendent Will
son, just issued, that official points
out the advantages OF consolidated
rural schools and thus reviewing the
development Of the idea that has
been observed in the records and
statistical re ,osts
During the last three years de-
cided elc,uragen tT,t has been given
to rural sthGoi consolidation. The
FIST at.te aid Vas provided for by
the passage OF the law approved
Mareh II, 1!.t, setting aside tne
proceeds of seetion 33, Greer county,
for the benefit of the union graded
or consolidated schools, but no funds
were available until the legislature
OF 1918 appropriated 100000 TOR
this purpose. Since then the ap2li-
cations Of sixty-one districts for
s92 .2O4,93 have been approved by the
state superintendent, and in most
cases warrants have been issued by
the state auditor. The legislature oil
1913, by an enactment approved
March 13, 1913, set aside the re-
mainder of the public building fund
for consolidated schools. The value
OF this land has been estimated at
approximately $2000,0O0 None of
the land has been sold, and only the
rent from section SO of old Greer
county is available.
There are at this time al03 con-
sclidated schools located In forty
two counties of our state. This num-
Der shows an increase of 32 per cent
in consultations during the school
Year 1e13-l4. The policy of aiding
these schools has been fully vindi
Gated as evidenced by this notably
increase in the number of consolida-
t!ons and in the counties represent
ed. 1t is earnestly recommended
that the legislature continue the
policy of aiding these schools as an
effective means of improving the
rural communities
"The act appsopriating $1O3G00 for
aid to these schools contains a pro-
viso fixing the maximum amount that
may be apportioned to any one dis
trict al s2,50O. 1t was realized by
the board of education that the
amount appropriated would not be
sufficient to enable each district en-
titled to this aid to receive the full
amount allowed by law, Therefore
the policy was adopted of paying to
each district that met the require
ments 40 per cent of the maximum
amount such district would be en-
titled to receive. Later an additional
% per cent was apportioned to each
district which had met the require
n,tnts Of the law. Up TO this time
no district has received more than
80 per cent of the full amount. in a |
of these districts expensive
have been erected. and the
state aid has helped these districts
Provision should be
made to extend prompt assistance to
those districts that have organized
with the expectation or
sharing in the state aid.
There has been considerable in
crest aroused in the organization OF
inion graded districts during the
ast year. In some Communities this
lass of district is preferred to the
consolidated district. because the Law
'eiating t. the union graded district
loes not provide for transportation
i pupils at public expense as it does
n the case OF the consolidated dis
riots. However, the law relating 20
ha organization of the union graded
istrict is more or less vague and is
Incomplete to thel extent That no
Ioyision is made for the issuance OF
ends by districts OF this type. In
smuch as it appears that this form
: school district organization is
e,ter adsrted 20 conditions existing
n certain communities than is any
ther authorized fora, It would per-
APPS be well for the legislature to
emedy the defects in the language
( cur present statute. and provide
means for the issuance of bonds by
Lese districts in order that suitable
may be created and the
equipment supplied