The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-05-19
RURAL SCHOOLS
GIVEN ATTENTION
Better Iowa School Commission to In
vestigate School Conditions
Makes Report Of investigation
THE GREATER IOWA MOVEMENT
Report Shows Very Small Proportion
of Patrons Willing to Return to
the Old School System.

VI SuS Svpvu9 W ssSSS' " w
the Old School System.
No phase OF the educational situa-
tion in Iowa has been receiving more
attention recently than the status OF
the rural schools.
The Better Iowa School commission
appointed to investigate school condi-
tions and possibilities in Iowa made
its report after year OF thorough
careful investigation and it's first
recommendation was one concerning
rural schools and favoring voluntary
consolidation. The wisdom OF this
recommendation was SO apparent that
the next legislature, meeting two years
ago, passed laws further facilitating
such consolidation and granting state
aid for schools thus organized.
Not An Experiment.
Iowa is not trying new experiment
in providing for consolidated schools
for other states furnish abundant
testimony of their value. Nearly every
county in Indiana has such schools.
many are found in Ohio. Minnesota
and North Dakota and other states are
gradually abandoning their one room
schools.
One can scarcely ride through any
part OF our prosperous state without
being impressed with the need of
doing something to improve the rural
schools. Years ago we saw in the
country small, poor residences, cheap
barns and plain little school houses as
devoid of any indication OF taste and
care and comfort as the dwellings.
Gradually large, fine barns replaced
the inferior ones. up to date farm ma
chinery was procured, wind mills set
up, stock improved. lands drained and
good commodious> dwellings began to
abound. But even now nearly every
country school house is of the same
old type as in the early days with the
same neglected looking exterior and
the same dingy furnishings and
scanty equipment as were seen when
everything was on a poor, cheap scale.
Working Conditions Unfavorab'c.
If surroundings not at all attractive
nor really sanitary We're all, the case
would not be SO serious, but the con-
ditions Of work are most unfavorable
The classes in nose one room schools
are so numerous that according to
statistics the average recitation period
is only eleven and half minutes and
in many cases less. while of course
classes are too small to be interesting.
Competent, experienced teachers are
not willing to work under these condi-
tions SO that in the l2.5O0 country
schools almost forty per cent Of the
teachers have had less than a years
experience and generally quite indif-
ferent preparation.
1t is no wonder that SO many pro-
gressive farmers desiring better ad-
for their children are leav-
ing the farm and moving to town If
they cannot bring themselves to let
their children board away from home
and be without home care.
Remedy in Consolidation.
The best remedy that has been found
is the consolidated school and the
of the pupils to and
from their home by concerted arrange
ment The larger taxing unit together
with the state aid available furnishes
a fund large enough to provide for
better school houses. properly classi-
fed schools, better teachers and more
adequate equipment. The greater size
of classes affords more stimulus and
The most frequent objections made
are directed against the increased cost
and the distance of the school from
some homes and the consequent long
rides required.
Cost and Distance.
AS to the first even If it be granted
that the initial expense is greater than
under the old and inferior system, that
fact alone should not prevent improve
ment in Il matter OF such Importance.
All wool goods cost more than sioddy,
blooded stock more than scrub ami
mails. an automobile more than a
buggy, but the higher prices are cheer
fully paid because the more costly
articles are worth more and surely
school as good as an up to date town
school and easily accessible is worth
more than the one room country
school. Moreover the better schools
bear far more vitality on the welfare
OF the family and community than any
merely material consideration.
Farm Values.
1t has been feared by some that
their farms would depreciate in value
if there were no district school near
by. On the contrary the experience
in Minnesota is that the consolidated
school raises the price OF land within
its territory many dollars an acre.
The other objection to the consol-
dated idea viz: that on account Of
distance a few pupils must start from
home early in the school busses and
return late is not due to a fault of
the system but of the organization OF
certain districts which have been
made to embrace too much territory.
Anyhow is it any worse to ride an
hour or even more and arrive at
school dry and comfortable no matter
what the weather may be than to walk
half as long time and arrive wet and
cold" The good roads movement will
be an aid to consolidated schools.
But the chief point is that by means
OF this plan We may have in rural