The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-06
6..,5 S .,OCL
LA,I Efficient
Cher Sits Tc,St 70 SyStcI
a. t..JSt E.C1]Til
RURAL GEE C."..U"rASSED

Little Progress Made Toward Better
ment OF Schools Made In Buckeye
State Until 1914 When a Thorough
Survey Was Completed by Governor
CoN's Administration--hcd cdress OF
Former Executive at Dedication Of
Centralized School,.
London, O.-(Special.)-Tho dedica.
hon of the new Monroe township GEN.
tralized school, and the all-day picnic
held on the school grounds, was one
OF the big events in the history Of
Madison county. The festivities were
begun with a big school parade, fol-
lowed by addresses by A. S. Thomas
Of Mt. Sterling and DR.. L. p. Beechy
ff the United States derar' 'ment of
agriculture. After dinner there was
short program, followed by an ad.
dress by Frank l. Brown of Dcyton
and the delicatory address by ex-Gov-
ernor James M. Cox.
In his discussion of Tho new school
law, Mr.. Cox sad in part:
"Ohioars ran not but be proud that
other statNs point to our new scnooi
law as the most modem and eGi elent
system that has yet been evolved
From Columbia university in New
York, during the recent summer ses-
sion, came the statement without re.
serve that tne Ohio rural school code
so far sIrrnsscd the pan in other
states that there was no comrarison.
Wisconsin, through its state univer-
sity. has been leader in educational
thought and 1t is admitted that the
state Itself has made distinct progress
In governmental matters For vC' y II
led the wav, and vet within the IL 1t
few davs Wisconsin. through its dc.
partment of schools. has haUrn a thor
oueh examination of the Ohio law,
Wit a view to using II as the basic
guide In the creation OF new system
in tre northwest.
"Ohio made little rroeress in her
rural schools during the Fifty years
ending with 1914. for the reason that
there was so much conflict as between
different parts Of the state. prow'nG
out of local conditions and between
the school workers themselves. A
concrete r'an was evolved as the re.
suit OF a thnrourh and efficient survey
OF rural districts in 1914, and the plan
that came out OF It was something to
bui'd upon Neither friends nor foes
OF the school code should exrect It to
be perfect. hut fundnmeotallg it is cor
rect, ard these fundamentals must he
preserved CHANGES must come VITA
the lessons OF eYner'cnce.
when Henry Ford set out to revo-
lutionize TRANSFORMATION, his struc-
tural iden was hase1 uDon four wheels,
an electric Fnarlt. and a flow OF gaso-
line. He bui'ded upon that founda.
tlon; he never derarted from those
fundamentals, but details were Chang.
ed-orlv. however as the result OF ev.
perience. Therefore. those who be-
lieve In preserving what we have must
stand toeether, and those who find
some objections to the law are unfalI
in seeking to DESTROY II, rather than
perfect the details. Tho law is a piece
of machinery which the local commu-
mites can avail themselves OF. II they
want to. They need not invoke It II
local conditions for the present do not
render 1t practicable. and In Its opcra.
tion the communities themselves have
the SOVEREIGN power. II politics has
been drawn into the AFFAIRS of the
county boards, or the schools them.
selves the people are to blame for It,
and they must correct this condition.
n incompetent men have been employ
ed, or are being overpaid, this is not
the fault OF the law, but neglect of the
people.
"An organized effort is being made
to repeal the law. Those who are op-
posed to II arc persistent In their an
tagonism, and II the law Is to live, and
am sure 1t will then In communities
such as this, where public sentiment
is almost unanimous In It's support,
the statutory institution which made
the contamination OF your ideals pos.
sible and brought you this days cere.
monlals and this magnificent temple.
should claim your vlgilant support
without reward to class or croed,
IL have heen In communities where
citizens have pointed out some slight
abuse under the new law, and tdey
have blamed the law for II, When il
was read 10 them, however, II wps
perfectly plain that tho thing they
complained OF they could have pre-.
vented No one thing viii do as mu, h
In the transformation OF rural life g
the rural school law, I am perfectly
frank In tho statement that the mari.
mum Of rs results will not be attainCl ;
where the roads are poor, The two
projects OF modern schools. bae-t
upon a larger educational unit ana
rood roads must 30 together, The
Bnrest way TO Get good roads will be
10 establish the schools and then me-
gngsitv will Give snur 10 road huildiu.