Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-03-08
SAYS RURAL
SCHOOLS ARE
IN Deep RUT
Conings Claims Weak
Link In System

Rural school consolidation and
county boards of education were adj
vocated by Lieut.. Gov. Geo. F. Com
ings in an address to the county sup
erintendents of the state Wisconsin
educators agreed, he said, the State
Supt. j. j. Callahan is right when he
says that the weakest link in the state
public school system is the rural
school.
"The bright, talented boys and girls
of the country have been lured to the
towns and cities" he said THE bet
ter educational advantages of the cit
les are one of the strong allurements.
Cities representing organized politi-
cal and economic power have moved
forward rapidly in providing educa-
tional facilities. The country COM
munities are far in the rear.
Our educational efforts for rural
schools have been drifting on like
ship at sea, rudderless and without
chart or compass. The spirit of CO.
ordination has been lacking in the di-
recting bodies. The president of the
university has been sure of what his
wants are, and has board ready and
persuasive lobbyists to press those
wants upon the attention of legisla-
tors. The presidents of the normal
schools have been sure of their needs
The superintendent of schools has
tried to get funds enough to put the
city schools in shape, and the rural
schools, the root of our tree of learn
ing, have been left i'll stony and ster-
lie soil
New County Organization
"The great need in the rural school
is to develop strong county organ
ization. The universal opinion t that
/ this can be most effectively done by a
county board Of education which has
! the power to appoint the county sup
erintendent This board would have
the power of redistricting under def
initely provided procedure Such an
organization would be able to keep
the schools close to the people, both
in the districts and in the county.
This reorganization can be brought
about only through legislative action.
"The ultimate goal should be to
give every boy and girl of the coun-
try an opportunity, while living at
home, to obtain the equal of the pres
ent city high school course, only of
vastly better quality.
can organized social life must be
developed that shall offer an alterna-
! tive as attractive and satisfying as is
offered in the cities, and be much
more sane and healthful. An organ
lied social life is quite dependent
upon a suitable place for folks to
meet Wherever conditions permit
consolidation commodious buildings
in the open country should be provid-
ed as classrooms and auditoriums,
and for indoor games and wholesome
recreation. A home for the teachers
with a plot of land should be provided
so the teacher may became a part of
the community and interested in its
welfare The best schools are those
that establish vital relations to the
homes No other institution is pos
sible that shall be so helpful to the
home life as properly functioning
school may be in our rural relations.
A Winter Course for All
cit is entirely practical to establish
in connection with the consolidated
school, we'll equipped garage, where
all the autos and all the repairs OF
farm machinery may be provided.
This would form an excellent contact
for introducing in the rural high
school especially vocational educa-
ton that would make possible the
combination Of theory and practice
During the winter a short course
in study and practical demonstration
work should be given, open to those
! of all ages, so that every one may OBJ
tain complete knowledge of the ma
chimes and forces he deals with IN
farm operations.
Farmers need better knowledge
of their business affairs and com
Imercial course in the curriculum
would supply the opportunities for a
practical training in the keeping OF
accounts for the whole district. The
adding up of milk sheets and the tab
ulation of records of production
would be valuable and calculate to
create an interest in the home and
in the communitys welfare"