The Sentinel=record., 1917-04-25
CONSOLIDATING THE
 RURAL SCHOOLS


 Arkansas E.ghty-siX were established in Arkansas during the past three years
 The consolidating of rural school districts is a forward movement in the progress of modern education. Th u. sands of districts have been consoli dated. not one failure has been re. ported
 The consolidation of rural schools is n longer m experiment. In every state where the most ha> been done in an educational way consolidation is the means used to bring about that improvement
 If consolidation has been success. ful in every district, every county and in every state where it has been tried. is it not rea- .nable ccncm- si,n that consolidation would be sue. cessful in Garland county know Of no county in the state where con soldation of rural schools would be greater success. The greatest ob- stacle in the path of progre siye edu. cation in Garland county and in the state Cf Arkansas is the one-rcom one-teacher school. This obstacle can be removed by consolidation. thereby eliminating this great defect in our public school system
 Some people oppose consolidati.n n because they dp not understand the meaning or the good 1t brings Some object to consolidation because tao schcolhouse can not be located at the corner of their farm This is a selfish idea. The people must he willing 1. the school to be centrally located. The schools are for the boys and girls. therefore, the schools should be To- cated where the children can derive the most benefit.
 We have schoolhouses that have been standing in Garland county for a quarter of a century. The equip. ment in those houses is inadequate. When you suggest that the old land mark be torn down or changed 10 a modern building there is opposition for reasons purely sentimental
 The environment of such schocl- houses often repels a child instead of inviting him. If you want your child to love and respect his school and 10 take an interest in his work, you must make the schoolhouse center of at traction.
 The c nsoldated rural school serves as a social center needed in every rural district The schoolhouse iq common property. At the school house the people can mingle and mix. thereoy democratizing the community land creating a fellowship of good feel. ing among the patrons of the school. In consolidated schools. a larger num- Der of children mix and mingle. com pete. strive to make friends and learn how 10 work together.
 By consolidating your small dis tricts, high school training can be given and the children can return home daily. keep in touch with home and farm life and remain in the home where the good mother can care for and protect them during the ad3les- cent and most impressionab period Of their lives. This mother care is particularly needed by girls in tleir early teens.
 Without consolidation, you must either send your girls away from home or deprive them of a high school edu. cation. The same is true of the boys. If you send your boys into the city to high school they may become weaned away from the home and farm life.
 The advantages of consolidation to the men and the women come from the fact that they may held their meetings of clubs and agricultural or ganizations and all public gatherings at the schoolhouse.
 There is no reason why the boys and girls should go to the town CT city Saturday nights to find amuse- ment. Why not organize them into literary clubs, social clubs, musical societies, debating societies or some. thing of that kind and have them meet al the schoolhouse Saturday nigat?
 The teacher or teachers sh uld re. main in the community during Satur- days and Sundays and act as leader. at those social meetings This would bring about cooperation among pa. irons, students and teachers. A spirit of community loyalty would be brought about which would create a better school interest
 The educational advantages of con. soiidati9n are so clear that it is as. founding that consolidation has not been brought about more rapidly.
 In this county most of the one. teacher schools have from 25 to 75 pupils, Some Of these schools have as high as eight grades. IL is a phy. sical impOssibility for one teacher to teach all of these grades as they should be taught We can eliminate Ihis trouble by consolidating the small schools and placing these sv