The Yale expositor., 1922-02-23
CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS
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dIJ' mere Is ulVlSlOH Oh ldDOT
and the teacher has time for work
outside the book. There are few
er classes, longer recitations and
good laboratories. The consolidat-
ed school secures better teachers
on account of the social advan-
tages and because they can do
better work. Our teacher corps
has greatly improved in training
and experience. The consolidat-
ed school has a great advantage
over the one-room school in close
supervision over teachers.
The consolidated school has an
enrolment large enough to give
the social and cultural contact
with agreeable associates neces-
sary for the best development of
child life. Boys and Girls clubs
are invaluable in this work of
specialization. Literary and ath-
letic leagues play a part. The
County Fair Board has provided
an entire building for school ex-
hibits and offers a premium list
of about $1,000. A County Play
Day is held annually, with an at
tendance of 5000 persons or
more. Last year 800 pupils COM
peted in over 1900 entries. Cups,
ribbons and pennants were given
as prizes.
Greater Interest in School Work
In comparing the cost of school
systems there are several facts
other than total costs to be con
sidered. One is the per capita
cost, which is a fair basis. In
Monroe township, which is con-
solidated, the average annual
cost for both tuition and trans
portation for each child in the
elementary school was $40.62,
while in the nearest one-room
school the average cost for tut
ton was 5000. In the one-room
school, No. 7, Somers township,
which had and attendance of sew
en- pupils, the average cost was
$93.50. The attendance in con-
solidated schools is better. In
Somers township the attendance
for the last year of the one-room
system was 81 per cent, and the
next year under the consolidated
system, the attendance increased
to 90 per cent. Twin township and
and Lanier township each have
the same area, about the same
population and topography; the
people are much alike; in fact,
they are as much alike as two
peas in pod, except that Lanier's
school are consolidated and Twin
has the old one-room system. Last
years reports show the follow
ing interesting data -
The number of pupils enrolled
in Twin one-room schools is 296 /;
in Lanier consolidated, $50.
The aggregate days of attend
ance in Twin, 1894; in Lanier,
99349.
The average days per pupil in
twin was 121; Lanier, 140.
And in the Twin one-room
school there were 3,401 days lost,
ITO months lost, 81 years lost.
What is a day of elementary
education worth ? 1t must be
recognized that 3401 days make
considerable loss. Boys and
girls remain longer in the con-
solidated school. High school at
tendance greatly increases. In
terest in school work is much
greater. The value of interest in
ones work cannot be estimated
in dollars and cents, yet it is of
highest value. Many children
quit school because the work is
poor and uninteresting. The lar
ger and better qualified teaching
force, better building and equip
ment, larger number of pupils. in
creased specialization of the
school, are bringing a more abun-
dant life to our rural youth. When
talking cost of consolidated
school, let us keep in mind all of
the above factors of cost and re-
turns.
Easy Transportation
We are now transporting 2,245
pupils over 60 auto-van routes
and 80 wagon van routes. The
auto van is rapidly displacing
the horse-drawn van because the
former transports the children
in about one-half the time the
latter takes. The children come
to school in conveyances which
are we'll lighted, ventilated and
heated. Their clothing and feet
are dry. They are not exposed to