Evening star., 1919-03-09
Question of Attendance.


.'The attendance at each of these
little crossroads schools is so small
that it is impossible to pay salary
necessary to engage a really com
petent teacher, with the result that
the average instructor of one of these
schools is an immature, haif-oaksd
girl, who has not yet learned TO
discipline herself. much less exer-
else any intelligent or beneficial con-
more time lighting with them than
in imparting knowledge.
This is not her fault, but her mis-
fortune, for she is also a product or
that obsolete system.
"Of course, the original reason for
the little crossroads school located
every two miles, was that it was the
only plan that would meet the then
conditions.
"In those days there were no motor
cars nor other speedy forms of trans
portation, and the farm horses and
help could not be spared night ana
morning to take the children long
distances to school. Consequently
the schools had to be located at dis
tances that even the smallest child
could walk night and morning.
That condition is all changed now.
There is a newer and a better way,
and in many parts of the country
the people have already come to ap-
preciate and to adopt this.
Discusses the Modern Way"
'nIhe modern way is to pool all the
school taxes-and wherever possible
sell the school sites--and with this
lump sum construct, at central
point in the county or township a
modern, we'll equipped. properly heat
ed and lighted grade school.
-This gives the country children
the same educational facilities as the
city children, plus the tremendous
advantage of country life and sur
roundings.
necessary that q child should endure
the cold and suffering, or undergo
the long, hard walks night and morn
ing, that used to be considered a
necessary part of it's physical and
mental development
IA child is naturally athletic and
will get lots of exercise in legitimate
play Nor Is it really hardened. as
people used TO suppose, by being
forced to stand extremes OF heat and
cold. Rather it is dwarfed and It's
constitution weakened at the very
time it should be conserved and de-
veloped.
I'm progressive districts nowadays
they build such schools as / have
mentioned and then purchase a suffi-
Client number of motor .tmnibuses
and trailers to carry all the children
who live more than half q mile from
the school, back and forth, night and
morning.
One Experiment q Success.
"one of the most successful Of
these school plans has now been in
operation for several years t,s at Gnino; 10
six REQ trucks. and to each of these
is attached q trailer.
"The truck itself is equipped like a
Jitney bus and seats a number of
children. In emergencies twice as
and standing.
aThen the trailer is attached at the
rear. This is used only for taking
those who live nearest the school.
diency the plan is, on leaving the
school at night, the children are
dropped off, one by one, from the
trailer until it is empty. and then the
trailer itself is unhitched. The motor
omnibus goes on, each route being
bringing the bus back to the school
empty
children up, the truck starts in the
arrives at the point where the trailer
was left of tho night before the BUS
,tseIf is full, SO the trailer is pick sd
nm. and then, in turn, picks up its
load on the way back to the school
Sometimes Two Trailers.
AIn some cases two trailers are at
tached to each motor bus.
'The first thing that comes to your
mind is how much is the extra cost?
We'll, the answer to that is, the
trucks pay for themselves and in
many case actually show surplus
over the old system, not to mention
its tremendous superiority.
For the taxes, which would be
spread over the maintenance of a
large number of little schools in
which the cost Of teaching each child
is excessive, even though the teacher S
pay is disgracefuny small. are now
| Jumped together in one big fund. and
this not only pays for better teachers
school, but also pays for carrying
the children back and forth.
"The drivers and conductors by
the way are usually high school boys
who are paid nominal fee--5o cents
a day generaIly-for the two trips.
"The care of the trucks is in charge
Of the janitor, who generally brings
to his assistance one or two mechani-
cally inclined boys whom he has se-
Iected from among host Of applt-
cants--for boys dearly love to work
with gas engines and motor cars. as
sCompetition is always keen for
these jobs, SO the boys so honorod are
always anxious to give good ac-
count of themselves"