The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-29
CONSOLIDATED
SCHOOLS ARE
Big SUCCESS
There Are 5O2 in North
Dakota, Macdonald Tells
Rural Educators
$4,000 CHILDREN
CARRIED TO SCHOOL
Enrolment Shows 102 Per
Cent Increase a Year
For Six Years
(special to lThe Forum.l

st. Paul, Mimi, Aug. 29.-"Twen-
ty-four thousand rural school chill
dren are transported at public ex-
pense from four to six miles day
to 502 consolidated schools in North
Dakota, and the county which has
the record for being one of two hav-
ing the coolest and longest winter
weather in the United States ranks
as No. on the percentage basis
among North Dakota consolidated
schools" stated N. c. Macdonald,
state superintendent of public
instruction, in addressing the nation
al conference on rural education in
st. Paul today. Mr.. Macdonalds
subject was The Present Status and
Future Prospects of Consolidation of
Rural Schools in North Dakota.
There were enrolled in the
consolidated schools Of North Da-
kota last year 30,125 farmer boys and
girls as against 5,625 six years ago.
OF the number enrolled, 3,675 did
high school work, as against $50 in
1911, giving an increase per year OF
102 per cent, compared with per
cent under the old system. Six years
ago, there were 955 farm boys and
girls doing high school work in all
classes of public schools. This last
year there were APO. This gives
a grand total increase of 1886,
where as under the old system, there
would have been an increase Of only
about lis. This increase of 2,466
would represent an increase in the
population of Fargo, the largest city
in North Dakota, Of at least 10000.
There are now 502 consolidated
schools in the state, 176 being in the
qOG IN fhn
towns and villages. In addition, there
are los partially consolidated schools
which in some states would be listed
as fully consolidated. This number
of 500 consolidated schools represents
an increase Of 3S8 in six years, or q
gain of $40 per cent. 1t also repre-
sents am average increase of sixty
FIVE schools per year, as against an
increase Of less than six per year
when there was no. state aid and no
special campaign to further the
growth of consolidation.
Every County Represented.
Every county In the state is
represented, the number of schools
in each county ranging from ! to FL.
The greatest number is found in the
northern part OF the state; one coun-
ty, which has the record for being
OIlC % Two bLC SOAACSI SAARA
longest winter in the United States,
ranks as No. 1. In the matter of
transportation, one of the two obJec-
tions to transportation being the
matter OF hardship on account of cold
and stormy weather. The average
haul one way is four miles, and the
average longest haul one way is six
miles. The number transported at
public expense is over $4,000. Despite
the inclement weather in connection
with somewhat long drives, the per-
cent of attendance is much better
than for one-room rural schools.
"At the present tiWe there are g.
$50 one-room rural schools In the
state, but had it not been for the 502
consolidated schools, there would be
at least 5000 of these rural schools.
The average area served by these
consolidated schools is thirty Sec
tions, ranging from Is to 45. The
average assessed valuation Is $780,
600; the average tax rate, p mills.
Consolidated SCHOOL, Success.
"The consolidated school in North
Dakota is a success from every point
of view: and, as the months go by,
the success assumes even greater
proportions. There have been no
cases of consolidated schools being
disorganized to be supplanted by
one-room rural schools; there are
scores of cases where the people
would like to organize these schools
but do not have the money to sup
port them.
I'm North Dakota the consolidated |
school plan costs more than the one
room school system, but 1t is worth |
much more. The major benefits con-
ferPed by the consolidated schools so |
far outweigh the disadvantages in |
the system that every consolidated |
school established becomes a con-
vincing argument for the organic
alton Of others in the same territory. |
Some Of these benefits are better at |
tendance, nine months term with |
so per cent attendance instead of a |
seven and one-half months term,
with SIS per cent attendance, as In |
teachers, well-trained teachers |
teaching a good school in place Of |
poorly trained teacher keeping a /
poor rural school; better high school |
ten times the number of |
rural pupils completing the high /
school and at one Fifteenth the cost I
to- the individual patron: betterI
school work in the grades, three
times the, number completing the /
eighth grade, and doing twice the
quantity ofWork; better organization,
q teacher with three grades and fif-
teen classes daily instead of six /
grades and thirty classes. and fif-
teen visits each year from the super
visor instead Of two; better civic
social opportunities, a good place for i
various clubs, literary societies,
social events. athletic contests, lee
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