Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-24
Nebraska
CAMPBELL BOOSTS
COUNTRY SCHOOLS
Clarks Man Declares Rural Patrons
Are at Last Coming Into
Their Own.
HIGH SCHOOLS ARE ESTABLISHED
prom a SAT- corresnondnn,

/
LINCOLN. Jan. 22-(Speciail-w II
Campbell Of Clarks. who is taking a verv
aeuVe part in the promotion OF a better
cohuition In rural schools was here last
week attending n meeting Of the rural
sohooi patrons conference and while NJ
inc office Of the state superintendent
favored The Rec with a few ideas on the
work that is being done promoting better
education among the pupils OF the coun-
| try schools.
Ntter a five weeks period" said MIR
campbell. the work has now reached tho
constructive period with a definite policy
Tor rural school improvement. This wear
900 country youth have reached beyond
inc eighth grade in country schools. II
mas been made possible to substitute for
etgn language study for mathematics IN
inc ninth and tenth grades and has re-
suited In forward movement all along
the line
District a. Corporation,
Inc school district IS a corporation.
the stockholders are the taxpayers ana
patrons of the school," Is the decision
given us by State superintendent
Thomas said Mr. Campbell. and I, a.
good one too. He told us farther tba,
the Board of Trustees OF tho dis,r,o. a.
the Board of Trustees of the corporation
lhey mold their annual meeting in June
as indicated by the law. They are given
oy the statutes the right to vote their
own taxes. to say what money shall he
spent Tor the maintenance Of their
schools, to establish their own courses NJ
study and to direct the teaching of s,cb
branches as they may deem advantageous
to their schools. The stockholders NAV
also instruct the Board of Trustees rela.
tive TO any extraordinary advance. NJ
the district; they may 60 farther and oven
locate the boundaries of their district ana
make 1t whatever size they wish he's,
adapted TO the educational needs of tho
community. In other words the state
superintendent tells us that the school
district Is in tho hands of the people. n
pure democracy, and therefore the people
themselves are responsible for the pror-
ross Of the schools.
There is need OF work along ruroI
school lines, effective work. The rural
schools have been decreasing in at
tendance. also in population. until three
seventies of the schools Of the state were
operating last year with from one 70
twelve children. Many OF the districts
could not afford a school Of proper length
under properly prepared teacher. The
cooperative plan was advised. The
bringing together Of two or moro weak
districts. having a district Of such size
as the people OF the community deemed
most advisable. This would enable the
people to get 100 cents worth out of every
dollar spent In the interests of the
school.
Results Are Visible.
The state superintendent office co.
operating with the rural people OF the
state. became a great promotion bureau
promoting the general welfare of the
schools OF the state. What we most like
to see is results, and these we have AZ
the present time. As result OF the werk
a large number of schools have con-
solidated and have formed cooperative
school districts These schools are now
found In both the eastern and western
portions OF the state and are a success.
But perhaps the most startling fact "A
the large number of rural high schools.
The state superintendent's department
VIII be able In short time to give tho
exact number. but it is estimated that
fully 300 districts have felt the force of
the program and that in the neighbor-
hood Of 1900 rural students are now
pursuing high school subjects who could
not have found II possible n year ago.
THE state superintendent has as a part
Of his program for next year the arrange
ment Of course Of study adapted 10 the
rural conditions and divided into terms
In such a manner that new classes may
be formed at the opportune time ana
reviews carried such as the larger boys
and girls Of the country districts may
wish to pursue"