The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-28
THE RURAL-sCHooL TERM.

| As Is pointed out by ]. L. McBrien,
school extension agent of the United
States bureau of education, in another
| of his papers on the rural school prob
lem, one thing to be remembered in
connection with the rural school
| term, as concerns the country at large.
is that farm boys and farm girls
| have school term 46.6 days shorter
than that of their city cousins.
In every section of the United States
there is discrimination in our public
| school policy against farm boys and
farm girls.
For example. this discrimination
costs the country pupils of the south
Atlantic states 59.2 days of schooling
a year; of the south central states
5e.5; of the north central states ala;
Of the western states 35.7, and of the
north Atlantic division 2S.S.
In the language of o. w, Neale, pro-
fessor of rural education of the Wis
consin State Normal school, 1.-THE fur
Their we go into the study of the rural
school term the more evident it be-
comes that the country pupils are not
given a square deal in the free school
privileges"
As a rule, when a lengthening of
the school term is considered, it pre-
supposes the need of more money.
But it is possible in many Instances to
lengthen the school term without vot-
ing another mill of school tax.
1t is due the taxpayer, SO far as pos
sible, that the school term be in
creased without increasing his tax;
but where this is impossible, the tax
payer must be patriotic enough to be
willing to pay the necessary increase
of school tax. If the patriotism of
the taxpayer will not prompt him to
Go this, he should do 1t for the sake
of enlightened selfishness if for no
higher purpose. He should know, with
Edward Everett, that Education is a
better safeguard of liberty than a
standing army" and with BENJAMIN
H. Hill, that mo nation ever yet paid
too much for the education of its peo-
pie, and the more it pays for this pur-
pose the richer and more powerful it
will become"
In effect and for the country at
large, as Mr.. McBrien insists, the rural
school term may be increased without
voting another day of school or levy
ing another mill of school tax.
How can this be done?
Improve the average daily attend
sHce of the pupils enrolled in school
by better enforcement of the COM
pulsory attendance laws in those
states having such laws, and by secur-
ing compulsory attendance laws at the
next session of the legislature in those
states without such statutes and by
the country for a better average daily
attendance in the rural schools.
The enrolment of pupils in the
rural schools, according to the latest
available data on school enrolment,
was 11,100.553, with an average daily
attendance therein of 7,5Os.558. MAX
ing the average daily absences in the
rural schools along S,5e0,s95.
These figures approach the appaI-
ing.
The average daily attendance i'll
rural schools for the country at large
Is only SIS per cent-an average daily
attendance of III per cent lower than
in urban schools.
1t is evident, therefore. that rural
pupils are penalized IN this matter of
free school privileges not only by the
general shortsighted and misguided
policy of the various states, but also
by Indifferent, or ignorant, or selfish
parents who fail to do their duty by
their own children in aJ1ouiD0 thor,
to remain out of school while school
is in session.