Evening journal., 1915-03-03
coLORApo AND DELAWARE.

tOlOkADO AND DELAOAhE.
- G. SARGENT of the Colorado Agricultural Col
H. lcge stated a broad truth when in report he
made recently to the United states Bureau Of Educa-
tion relative to Colorado rural schools, he said
"WhiIe city children enjoy the best that money
buy country children must content with the ragged
edge of public school system"
There is kernel that statement that ought to be
considered by members of the Delaware Legislature
in dealing with the problem of rural schools.
Colorado has 1725 small country school districts,
each containing, fewer than $50 children
school-gong Professor Sargent made an inves-
tigation of all OF them Following that investigation
he said "rrhe district system has something funda-
mentally wrong about It," We think that sentiment
viii find echo in the mind Of State Commissioners
Education Wagner and others who have investigated
conditions in the rural sections Of this State
One county was found in Colorado that had lO7 indie
pendent districts consisting of 32l directors with SUI
peryision over 1922 children, director for every
twenty children One district did not for seven years
report a child yet kept its independent organization
elected s school board year. levied no taxes and
spent ON money for education" In one county were
found hroe-teachor and two-teacher school just ono
mile apart ON a level road with tho only impossible
barrier between them" Prof Sargent declares IAN
imaginary line forming district boundaries Further
more the teachers passed each other twice day in
going to and their schools" In another section
OF the State "a four-me radius will include all of the
habitabc posts of seven separate independent school
districts having total OF 500 children of school age,
twelve teachers, and property with an assessabo value
of over S10OO0OO"
or the 1725 school districts in the State having not
over $50 children the school census for the
past eight years was S2.t74 while the average enroll
mont was only 6l3S5 IS per cent. of the census.
"Whle Colorado has compulsory-at laws
says Prof Sargent '177S9 boys and girls of school
age I'm the rural sections of the State were not in at
during each of the eight years from 1906 to
1879 Bureau of Education officials point out how
ever that school age includes all children from TO
years of age unusually high standard of measure
ment for any system of schools
or the Ga 1856 pupils enrolled in the 1,725 districts,
tho daily attendance of those who did enroll con-
tnues the statement makes far showing than
the enrolment itself" The eght-year average for the
1725 districts only 81 per cent of the total en-
rolment The per cent. was in some instances as low
as 81
The investigation reveals that S4 per cent of the
teachers of these rural schools women, and con-
cludcs that schools of this class at least educa
tion has nearly ceased to be mans lob" The average
salary was found TO be about $50 month.
Ruraschool experts in the Bureau of Education con
slider the Colorado situation better than in many OF
the states II is felt that careful investigations, like
that Just made in Colorado will do much to make oduca
tional opportunities in the country equal TO those in
the city.
There may be those who read the above who may
decide that in broad, rural-schoo sense, Colorado
is getting to be like Delaware all the time ant
that. like State It is sadly in need of rura
district consolidation.
In this connection st is pleasing TO note that tn
Delaware Legislature has passed rural school dis
trct consolidation bill that promises to do much TO
ward improving conditions in all three counties. Il
its broad lines It follows the suggestions of Commits
sioner Wagner of the State Department of Education
the three county school superntendents and Governo
miller II that now law he nelligcntly and unselhshl
applied il may not be just few years to say, wit
respect to the pupils in this State, that while cit
children enjoy the best that money can buy countr
children must content with the ragged edge of on
public school system" II is the aim of COMMISSIONS
Wagner and his co-laborers to make tho greatest pos
sble advance in the shortest possible time in the Ell
ncioncy of rural school system