The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-02-18
Eagle Lake
from Thursdav's Daily,
4 For Better Schools.

=, FOr the dement, or the people VINO
are interested in better schools for
the rural community and the small
towns the following letter. received
from j. w. Boyd, the president of the
board Of education at Cleveland,
MIMI. Is published. Mr.. Boyd is one
of the many wide awake farmers liv-
ing near the village of Cleveland, and
one who is trying to give the farmer
boys and girls the same opportunity
to get an education at home as the
city children are able to obtain. The
following letter needs no explanation
for the facts concerning the |Cleye-
land school are plainly set forth, and
the same facts will apply to the ret
naming 142 schools in the state
which come under the consolidated
school class:
Cleveland, Minn., February 3. 1916.
MIR W. w. Hulce, Eagle Lake,
Mimi. Dear Sir: Your letter asking
for my opinion on consolidated school
at hand. In reply, shall give you
briefly sonic of the facts concerning
our school and allow you to form your
own conclusions regarding the adj
Visibility of such an institution.
Our school has an assessed valua-
ton of over 100000 and comprises
practically one entire township with
the village Of Cleveland located in
the center-a village of about 200 in
habitants at which place the school
is erected Eight district schools
combined to form the consolidation.
Approximately 250 children are en-
rolled, about $50 of whom are trans
ported to and from school by eight
vans or wagons. These wagons are
designed by the state, are enclosed,
have footwarmers and are quite
comfortable. The average price paid
to the drivers is $50 per month.
The building is two story eight
room structure with four large rooms
in basement. The twelve rooms are
steam heated, well ventilated and
equipped with modern conveniences
A complete high school course is
taught, together with agriculture,
domestic science, and manual train
ing. Eight teachers and a superin-
tendent are employed for instruction.
The building is lighted with Blau- gas
which is also used for cooking in the
domestic science room The cost of
the building fully equipped was a lit
tie less than $4,000. The levy for
the first year was ten mills and for
the second is 13 mills. ~
Our school ranks; in every respect,
with the best graded and high schools
in the et, +" The city schools in this
vicinity levy a tax of from 20 to 80
mills. The levy in the eight rural
schools before consolidation ranged
from five to twelve mills. 1t is obvious
that consolidation has raised the
taxes as compared with the old
system, but as compared with other
schools of the same efficiency, the
tax is very low. The advantages
gained by consolidation are so much
greater and more numerous that they
cannot be compared with the old
time one rOomed school house The
country boy or girl, Under consolida-
ton receive the same educational adj
vantages as does the city boy and
girl, while remaining under the eng
yiroment of their homes. Consolida-
ton gives to- the entire community "a
broader conception of affairs and ell
inmates the petty and inefficient
management of the small district
schools. -, -,
The six members Of the Board OF
Education are all actual farmers. We
have experienced no difficulty what
ever in transporting the children with
comfort and safety. / live about as
far as anybody from the school and
can personally vouch for IFS complete
satisfaction. There was. strong oppo-
sition at first regarding the school
the bonds having carried by a very
small margin. This opposition has
now almost entirely disappeared
many Of those who were most bitterly
opposed having become enthusiastic
supporters.
The state is an ardent financial sup
porter of such schools, giving us $500
for transportation, and about $4,000 tC
help defer other expenses
If have neglected to state anything
that would be of interest to you, mott
fly me of same, and | shall be glad to
give you such information as can, Oh
would be glad to have you pay our
school visit .s s, s|..
Trusting this will meet with your
requirements, | am Respectfully
yours, j. w. Lloyd, president -oi
board of education.