Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-17
GREAT ADVANCEMENT Is BEING
MADE IN CONSOLIDATION IN
SMALL TOWNS.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
COMPULSORY JULY I
Now Courses Moro Easily Handled by
solidatien-Insuranee Companies
Plan to Make Most Of New Law
Regulating Rates-Railroads TO Leave
Iowa Passenger Rates Alone.
Special to Times-Repuslican.

SpeClal TO IlIQeS- NSpu SllCdu.
Des Moines, May 17.-There are now
107 places in the state where there has
been consolidation Of school districts
end establishment Of the consolidated
schools. The greatest advancement
made in recent years in school matters
on Iowa has been in the matter of the
coming together Of the small towns and
the rural communities Immediately
surrounding. recognition of their NUT
ual interests and preparation to take
advantage Of the situation as il is
found. That is the secret Of the school
consolidation idea.
On the 1st of July next il becomes
obligatory that in every school of the
state there be taught agriculture, man
ual training and domestic science. The
problem of how to manage this is
easier in the consolidated schools than
in any place else. There is provision
for state aid for such schools when
they engage in the vocational training,
hence standards can be set and the re-
quirement be made that they be lived
up to. In a majority of these schools
there-is some equipment. In many there
are instructors who are competent and
need little direction.
The requirement aS 70 teaching voca-
tional studies has been great ircen-
tive to better schools. It has encour-
aged consolidation and the erection of
new school houses and otherwise pro-
viding for better sch In most cases
there is provision for assembly rooms
and the vocational center idea is made
prominent. Where these schools are
the result of cooperation between
small towns and rural communities
there is discovery that they both may
profit greatly by the partnership.
This thought ought TO be better
known than it is" said Frand D. Jo-
seph, deputy superintendent public in
struction, that where there is unity
OF action between the small towns and
the rural communities in school mat
tiers they are both getting The most out
OF il all, and the burdens are evenly
distributed. In these cmmunities they
are establishing rest rooms for the peo-
pie who comes in from the country,
and they are making use of the travel
ing libraries and other such valuable
things"
The problem Of establishing in the
one-room schools Of the state some
a.
beyond solution. In very many of these
schools there has already been started
) the work that is to become permanen,
and statewide in character.
It is now very plain that the insur-
ance companies are going 10 under
take to make the most of the new law
for state revision and regulation Of in
surance rates, and state approval OF
So-called classification Of rates, and to
secure in that way practically what
they hoped to gain by their efforts at
repeal OF the state anti-compact law,
for which they 1abored zealously sew
.eral years. They viii establish a rat
ing bureau in Des Moines and under
take to secure a uniform Classification
of risks in the state, perhaps with sur
yey Of all the cities, and then to COM
pei all fire insurance companies tc
adopt one rate. At first the rates will
be reduced. at least on the larger risks
and in time there, will become enough
of hexibility in the matter so that the
companies Will be amply compensated
The putting into effect Of this new
law is going to a considerable task
before the insurance department.
1t is learned that the railroads do no,
intend to try to force up passenger
rates by the court and commission