Pocahontas star herald., 1926-04-22
About Consolidation

Question:
What are the disadvantages Of q
one-room school?
Answer:
1. The teacher has to teach so many
grades, so many subjects, so many
classes, and look after so many odds
and ends that thorough work is i'm
possible.
2. The enrolment is small, the at
tendance is irregular, the term is short,
and the recitations do not average
more than about ten minutes in length,
3. The course of study is narrow
and unable to meet the needs of the
individual differences in children.
4. Special teachers of music, manual
training, domestic science, physical
culture, drawing, etc, are impossible.
5. The teacher is usually young "and
getting" experience practicing on inno-
cent children. Yet she is asked to be
superintendent, principal, art teacher,
science teacher, all the special teachers
provided in a good consolidated school,
and perhaps, janitor.
6. The work is so hard, the hours
so long, the pay so short, and often
the sympathy and cooperation so little
that the well trained, successful teach
er usually accepts the first opportun-
| ity to teach in well organized graded
school-many times for less salary.
! z. The average small district is not
able to put up good building, equip
it well, keep it in good condition and
employ a good teacher for long term.
8. A small community often suffers
for real leaders. The teacher is sell
dom a citizen of the community, but
often spends her week ends in another
community.
o. The population and taxable area
are both too small.
10. Very little individual instruction
or supervised study can be given.
II. AS a result of all this the pupils
become discouraged.
IL. No high school work is possible.
Question:
What the advantages Of the consoli-
dated schools? ri
Answer:
1. 1t not only holds the best people
in the community, but attracts others
like them.
2. / increases the value of property.
(Results of No. 1.)
3. 1t makes possible a social life,
the lack of which is driving many
young people from the country. The
social life is made more attractive by
rubbing elbows" with more people,
through community singings, commun-
ity forums (where vital issues are dis
cussed) Sunday schools and churches,
Junior S. l. AS literary societies, or
chestras, chautauquas, athletic games,
etc.
4. Better community leaders can be
had and more can be better developed.
5. 1t gives to both children and
adults a needed training to co-opera-
tion. in working with and for each
other. 1t causes people to think in
terms of a bigger community and about
bigger problems.
6. II makes it possible for athletics
to be well organized and supervised.
7. 1t makes for efficient graduation
and classification of pupils.
8, 1t puts a good rural high school
in reach Of every home.
O. The course of study is broader,
more vital, therefore more interesting
and pupils are glad to remain in school,
10. Better teachers can be employed
because the work is more pleasant, the
term longer. the supervision is better
and the social life is more satisfying
IL. 1t enables teacher to have Only
one or two grades, thus making II
possible to secure teachers who are
trained for their special work
II. The enrolment is larger and the
attendance better than in all the separ
ate schools combined.
13. 1t not only keeps children In th'
grades longer, but it causes many more
to go on to the high school
! ii. 1t enables rural boys and giri'
to get a good high school education a
place and in way that Will no
divorce them from rural life and rura
: people
10. 1t gives pupils all the advantage
of city school without exposing theh
TO the glare and temptations that s.
often go with city life.
10. 1t enables the County Superlh
tedent to visit the teachers more oftel
and to render them greater service
II. "In union there is strength In