The log cabin Democrat., 1920-07-29
STUDY
 SCHOOL PROBLEMS
COUNTYLEADERS ENTHUSE
Superintendents Discuss Questions of School Policy-List of Those
 in Attendance.

ents of education from 65 counties ot
 Arkansas are starting their official careers with great enthusiasm and much hard work. At the school of instruction for them, attending which is probably their first official act as force in Arkansas is getting a definite idea of the job ahead of 1t, and help ful instruction is being handed out by the men at the helm of public school education in Arkansas. State Supt. J. L. Bond is in active charge of the school, with a number of his associates in the department of education assist ing in giving proper direction to the new agency for improvement of public schools.
 At the session this morning, the su- perintendents heard a brilliant and timely discussion of rural school con- solicitations, led by J. R. Grant, the new supervisor of rural schools, with a round table discussion of the consoli- dation method in which many of the superintendents joined. Great interest was aroused in the topic, and Mr. Bond set aside the morning period Friday for a continuation. The ad- vantages of consolidation and the ob- stacles to be overcome before it can be effected, are the two themes set for discussion at the time.
 Concluding MT. Grants leadership of the discussion, Mr Bond spoke briefly of the consolidated schools of Chicot county, which he termed a val uable and effective piece of educa- tional work. People are moving into Chicot county by the hundreds to get advantage of these consolidated schools" MT. Bond said. "The meth cd offers a solution of many of our educational problems. Tomorrow we will discuss just among ourselves the obstacles to be overcome before this plan can be carried out in all counties. Chicot is not alone in the good work done along this line. Other counties in Arkansas also have simplfied their school problems by consolidation. l am glad to see the great interest you have taken in this discussion"
 One superintendent appealed to the leader to tell how the opposition of the people might be changed to SUD- port. We can't do anything the peo- pie oppose" he said, land in some districts, we have to face opposition tc consolidation" The round table dis cussion developed the fact that the majority of counties in Arkansas have school districts probably two miles square and around 100 in num- Der, while few counties have adopt ed consolidation and now have as few as l2 districts with four-year high schools maintained for the full schoo1 year.
 The superintendents proved during the recess they can play as we'll as work. They went into recess for 15 minutes and turned the meeting into get-tOgether proposition, some ot them still continuing discussion of con- solidation. Their sessions are in the basement of the State Normal, and Pres. B. W. Torreyson and his associ- ates there have taken much care tc provide for their comfort. Occasion ally the program of work is varied with singing by the entire number and this is given with the same en- thusiasm as spirit as characterizes their work.
 MT Bond stated that all but 1C counties in Arkansas have notified the department of education of the SC lection of uperintendents They are Ashley, Baxter, Crittenden, Cross Grant, Howard, Montgomery, Nevada Prairie, Saline, Stone and Woodruff Mr. Bond said these counties would elect this week, and their new educa. tional directors come to Conway fol the school. It is worth noting tha all counties where elections have beer held as provided by the new public school law, are represented in tho meeting at the State Normal
 Programs for each day have beer mapped out by MT. Bond and his as . ooNietNtS' <AL el4QlliOu IO tilt lOplCI for today will be discussion of il
 literacy by Miss Irene Jones, super
 intendent of schools at Leslie anC working for the Arkansas Illiteracy Commission this summer MT. Bono also stated that the department of ed
 ucation. with the assistance of the
 Little Rock chamber of commerce
 has undertaken to secure Perry G
 Holden, the noted agriculture leader
 to come here for an address during
 the school term. Further announce
 meth will be made on this point later
 A number of Conway citizens have
 expressed a wish to hear MT. Holder
 should the movement be successful.
 The following list of superintend
 ents, which was furnished by Mir
 Bond gives the names of their coun