The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-03-30
THREE HUNDR[<
ATTEND MEETING
ANNUAL JOINT TEACHERS AND
OFFICERS MEETING VERY
SUCCESSFUL
MANY|MPORTANT PROBLEMS DISCUSSED
Consolidation Of Rural School Districts
Only Way to improve Condi-
tions in County

Nearly three hundred teachers and
school officers of the Brookings county
schools assembled at the Grand Opera
House in this city Friday for their an
nual meeting.
The most important subject present
ed to the gathering was that Of the
consolidation of the rural school dis
tricts. This subject was treated in a
very exhaustive address by President
E. c. Perisho, of the State College.
The most exhaustive study, accord
ing to President Perisho, of the schools
of the nation ever made in America
was that conducted under the manas Sc
ment of the Russell Sage Foundation.
This study included ten separate fea-
lures. Let us note a few of these with
reference to South Dakota and our sis
ter state. North Dakota, which is very
similar to u commonwealth in point
of area, population, general conditions
and age:
"a " Illlb vi VI
school age in and out of school
South Dakota stands 37th; North Da-
kota stands 18th.
2. AS to School Property per capita
for school children-South Dakota
ranks 32nd; North Dakota ranks Goth.
8. AS to school attendance-South
Dakota ranks 2Sth; North Dakota
ranks 9th.
4. AS to number of days schools
were open-South Dakota ranks AID;
North Dakota ranks Goth.
When all the features of the study
are considered the average rank of
South Dakota is Goth while that Of
North Dakota is 18th.
The reason for North Dakota stand
ing 16 2-3% higher in the educational
scale than South Dakota was attribut-
ed to the difference in the school laws
of the two states; attention being call
ed by President Perisho to the follow
ing provisions
North Dakota has a State Aid Enact
ment for Rural and High Schools
which has worked to great advantage
in improving, especially, the country
schools. Whatever the cause, the facts
are that North Dakota has some 800
consolidated or cooperative school
centers while South Dakota, accord
ing to a letter from our state superin-
tendent under date of November 10th,
rs, has about 80 consolidated plans
approved but a number of those failed
of adoption by the voters and some
which passed have not been put into
operation.
In closing President Perisho said:
1.-THE time has passed when it is
necessary to discuss in any educa-
tional association in South Dakota the
need Of social and educational center
in our rural communities. We have
perhaps 500 neighborhoods in South
Dakota now needing educational, social
and agricultural centers-what step
can we take toward economy and eff
cheney that will be of more real value
than to make it possible for co-opera-
tive communities to be established.
"The cheapest, easiest and most
feasible method by which these social
centers can be established will be by
the way of the consolidated or CO.
operative school. The bringing or 3
to 5 scattered rural schools to a COM
an experiment. 1t has been done so
many times in more than ga of the
states hat it's value can no longer be
questioned. Not only will the on
solidated school establish a rural cen
ter where industrial, literary and So
cial questions will be discussed worked
out and enjoyed, but your centralized
school will give any community:
1. Better buildings; with little or
no additional cost, for one large struc-
ture can be erected, heated and main
tanned as cheaply as a number of
smaller one
2. Better teachers; for all will be
especially qualified for the grades they
teach-an excellent principal, the best
primary and intermediate teachers
will cost no more than five instructors,
all of whom teach all the grades.
8. Better courses; the separate
rooms viii permit of more classes with
new and more appropriate subjects.
4. Better classification; the 90
operative school can have the ad.