Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-05

The schools Of the Lower Rio Grande Valley rank
among the Valleys greatest assets. Wherever south
ern educators assemble, the Valley school systems are
almost invariably referred TO as the models for the
south. Whenever tourists. homeseekers or excursion
lists tour the Valley they are impressed BY the excellent
school buildings in she cities and towns. the consoli-
dated rural schools which offer rural scholars advan-
tages equal 10 those rendered the schools Of the urban
centers.
Few Of the older residents Of the Valley fully APP
preciate the difference between the Valley schools
and those OF the average agricultural sections OF the
south and west. Valley people have become so aecus-
toned to good schools that they accept them as a
matter of course, merely a necessary adjunct to q well
regulated and progressive community. They are al
ways willing to erect additional buildings, provide
more facilities and employ more teachers when the
aeed exists. They believe their childrn are entitled 70
every educational advantage, and that true economy
lies in providing educational facilities which will prop
erly prepare them for their work in life.
Two additional school buildings, one at Santa Rosa
and the other at Olmito, have recently been added
TO the consolidated rural schools Of Cameron county.
Both are beautiful structures, we'll equipped. and are
designed to give the pupils the same facilities and ad-
vantages pupils Of the city schools enjoy. In Harlingen,
Brownsville, Edinburg and several other points In the
Valley new structures are under way. their erection
made necessary by the rapid increase in population
and the ever-increasing number Of scholastics-
In strange contrast to the condition oof the Valley
SCHOOLS IS ina recently CAlrO ~ a ~~A@cASANc ~~A~~
by John J.. Tigert, u. S. commissioner Of education,
when leading educators were almost unanimous IN as
sorting that equality Of educational opportunities is a
farce in America. Z. l. Hendricks Of Warrensberg,
No, called attention to the fact there are over 10000
one-room schools IN the rural sections Of the United
States, and that few rural scholars had the opportunity
to acquire an education. There is no greater problem
in the field Of education than the one-room school, :"
Mr.. Hendricks said. IF we keep the world safe for
democracy the rural child must have educational OPP
portunities equal to those Of the city child"
In the three counties of the Lower Rio Grande VAL
ley there are only five one-room schools, located IN
almost inaccessible ranch areas. Throughout the rural
sections practically every child has an opportunity 70
attend q consolidated school. offering the same course
Of study and with teachers fully as capable as those
Of the city schools. Libraries science equipment,
everything necessary to make the school highly eff
Gent. is provided: and the consolidated rural schools
often boast as many credits Of utilization with the state
university as do the schools Of the towns and cities.
The Valley is justly proud Of its schools. They sym
bolize the progressive ideals Of its citizenship, their
recognition Of their duty to posterity. With each pass
inr year the fame Of the Valley grows, and there is no
one factor which tends TO spread this fame to a greater
degree than the fact that the Valley communities pos
sess school system which are without peer in the United
States.