Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1914 — IMPROVE COUNTRY SCHOOLS [ARTICLE]

IMPROVE COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Consolidated School Will Give Coun try Children Better Education. Consolidation of the country schools la becoming more and more a matter of vital importance to the people of the country. This is an age when great advancement is being made along all fines of agricultural pursuits and the country school should keep pace with the great development taking place in all things with reference to the farm life. This cannot be deme under existing conditions. While many of our country schools are endeavoring to give to the boys and girls of the districts, Instruction in agriculture, they are serioudy handicapped by lack of time to successfully handle a subject of this kind where only ten or fifteen minutes can be given to such a recitation and in many cases it can be given only once each week. The great need today is the consolidated school tor by dividing the grades among two or three teachers, 11 gives an opportunity to teach these subjects without robbing the primary grades of time which rightfully bo longs to them* First—lt gives high school advantages to country children who would otherwise get no farther than the elementary grades. Second—lt keeps our young people on the farm. - Third—lt keeps our money at home instead of being paid as tuition for high school in the city. Fourth—By dividing the different grades among two, or more teachers a much better school could be had >With the same expenditure of money. Fifth—Better teachers could be secured. School directors have great difficulty in securing trained teachers for the one room schools. Sixth—As the school grows agriculture and domestic science courses could be taught in a practical way. Seventh—The school would be a social center for the entire community. Eighth—lt Increases the value of property in the districts. Ninth—lt will give the inspiration that comes with numbers. It is impossible to have a good school where there are only six or seyen pupils em rolled. Tenth—By having a good building t niformly heated, properly lighted and ventilated and equipped, according to the needs of the school, children and teachers alike will be inspired to do their best work. “Consolidation of country schools Is the solution of the problem of agricultural education and it is the only complete solution that has been offered.”