Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-09-12
RURAL SCHOOLS
NEED new LIFE

East Lansing, Mich.-A study of
conditions in the rural schools of
Michigan conducted by the Agricul-
tural college through its department
of agricultural education has resulted
in the unearthing of much inefficiency
and lack of economy in the mainten-
ance OF the states country school sys-
tenn.
'eThe country educational system of
the state is ineffective and expensive"
Prof. w. H. French of the college has
written in report of his observa-
tons; "and in hundreds of districts
it costs more per capita to teach the
children during eight years in the rur-
al course than 1t does to teach the
children in twelve year course, in
GLIDING the high school, in many of
our Michigan cfties-that is, it costs
more per child per year.
The question OF taxes and equali-
cation have been discussed with great
vigor, yet there is no tax which the
people pay that is so UNEQUAL in itself
and so unequally distributed, as Is the
school tax. We have communities in
Michigan where the school tax runs
as high as six per cent, and still other
communities where the primary
school interest fund from the state
practically pays the entire expense.
This phase of the country school ques-
ton should receive careful considera-
ton at the hands of our rural people.
"In Vevay township in Ingham
county, where typical example is af-
forded, there are six rural schools and
the city schools of Mason. The per
capita cost in each of. these rural
districts is higher than it is in the city
Of Mason. If these six school dis
tricts were all consolidated with the
Mason district the teaching force in
the township could be reduced three
or four teachers, and by transporting
the pupils it would be possible addi-
tionally to give all the children the
sam educational advantages, and at
less expense, than is now incurred
This instance can be duplicated in at
least 500 other townships in Michigan.
Another plan would be to combine
the six rural schools into two or three
schools, with two teachers in EACH
These schools would be in the country
and could take the children easily
through the first six grades. After
that, the pupils by providing their
own transportation could attend the
central school without great difficulty
and at very small expense. This plan
might not decrease the whole amount
of the tax levy, but it would distribute
the money equitably and increase the
community spirit. If districts are
combined so as to have two teachers
in every rural school the efficiency of
the school could be increased by more
than 100 per cent, the community
spirit improved, and the school made
more nearly a real educational cent
err.
"These consolidated schools, and
high schools, in which an agricultural
course is offered, tend to check the
cityward movement of farm boys.
Careful Investigations of the agricul-
tural work in our high schools show
ed in on eyear 100 young men who
when they entered the high school
had no idea of going back to the
home farm, but who as a result of
their school training declared they
had secured new interest and a new
vision of the possibilities in agri-
culture and were going to return to
the farm. Thus, agricultural train
in the high school saved in a single
year at least 100 keen young men for
agricultural. This year there are
5000 boys studying agriculture in the
high schools of the state"