The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1928-02-02
PLAN COMBINE
OF 3 DISTRICTS
Valley Schools Talk Over
Advantages of Consol-
idating Classes

-
three school districts at the east
end of the county has had some
discussion lately, and Mr.. Baker,
sup't. of the Finley school has
written this paper about the adj
yantages which such a move would
entail. His article follows:
In recent years there has been
a tendency for the smaller rural
school districts to combine around
community centers, building up
strong modern schools. Between
the years 1902 and 1927 over 1000
rural school districts combined,
forming 366 cons solidated school
districts in Washington.
Where conditions are suitable
consolidation has proven a huge
success. A number Of advantages
are gained by proper consolidation.
1. Makes communities more de-
sirable places in which to live.
2. Increases the size of the tax
ing unit for school purposes.
8. Provides for larger and bet
ter equipped schools.
A. Larger school systems have a
tendency to attract better teach
ers.,
5. Larger school systems can Of
fer broader and richer courses of
study.
BY consolidation, a community
is not giving away its schools and
community centers, but building up
the community by giving to the
boys and girls, better educational
opportunities and attracting de-
sirable citizens to the communities
because of the good schools main
tanned.
We are living in an age of the
survival Of the fittest. The law of
diminishing returns is constantly
at work. Can our present small
schools survive in competition with
the larger ones? Will they pay
sufficient returns? The students
educated in larger schools have a
decided advantage over the ones
educated in the smaller schools
not so much from the point of
facts learned, but by association
with greater number of people
and the extra cirricula activities
offered by the larger school.
At the present time there is not
a consolidated school district in
Benton county, though at present
a few districts are considering the
possibility of consolidation.
Those people who anticipate
consolidation should lay aside all
petty prejudices and be of open
mind-receive all the information
and facts concerning consolidation
and then apply them to their par
ticular problems. Should they feel
uncertain as to the benefits to be
derived we have specialists in the
field of education who are capable
of giving good information con-
cerning consolidation based on
past experiences.
Districts 9, 13 and % are so sit
uated that should they desire to
consolidate and reorganize their
school system they would have a
district with an assessed valuation
of some 81 10000 for school pur-
poses. By maintaining grade
school at Finley-the high school
at Hover and ward school at
Mottinger it would <be possible to
increase the efficiency of our
schools without extra building ex-
penses and without destroying or
molesting our present community
centers.
1t would be possible by this re-
organization to offer a richer
course of study and to exchange,
without inconvenience, students
with the larger schools OF the
country. 1t would give us an OPP
portunity to offer those extra cir
ricula activities such as debate,
dramatics, music and athletics for
which there is SO much demand IN
modern education.
This is not plan to give away
your schools, but is suggestion
offered to increase the efficiency
of the schools in these communl-
ties with and by the help OF tne
people.