No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 55 



force. Several townships have taken initiatory steps in the direc- 

 tion authorized by the law, and two oi three others have adopted 

 the system and are now transporting the scholars to their central 

 schools. North Shenango township, Crawford county, and Herrick 

 township, Sus(iuehauua county, are now solving this problem in 

 Pennsvlvania. 



The county superintendents iu txiirteeu counties in Pennsylvania, 

 in their reports to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction 

 in 11)01, called attention to the consolidation, as being the solution 

 of the rural school problem. Inasmuch as the progress of this 

 movement is fairly indicated by these reports, I quote from them 

 for information: 



Prof. T. H. Morrison, Superintendent of the Erie County schools, 

 says: ''There is a greater sentiment in favor of the consolidation 

 of our rural schools, and the establishment of the township high 

 school in a good many districts. In Springfield, Elkcreek and Mill- 

 creek, schools are closed on account of small attendance, and the 

 pupils are transported by means of vans to a central school. This 

 centralization of schools is a great improvement over the old system. 

 Some of the advantages are: The percentage of attendance is very 

 much increased; there is less sickness; no tardiness among trans- 

 ported pupils; a much larger percentage of children enrolled; better 

 teachers employed; principals are employed to sufjervise; more in- 

 terest and enthusiasm on the part of both pupil and teacher; it costs 

 very much less, and the children have the advantage of a higlier edu- 

 cation." 



Prof. Eli M. Kapp, Superintendent of Berks County schools, states 

 as follows: "There are certaiply forces at work in society, which will 

 ultimately rescue the rural school from its present low state. The 

 increased demands for better roads, for rural postal delivery, for 

 cheajier telephone and telegraph rates, for "school consolidation and 

 transportation, for townshij) high schools, will eventually bring thfc 

 country school out into the full light of a brighter dav.'' 



'&' 



In speaking of the recent appropriation for the establishment of 

 township high schools, Prof. T. L. Gibson, County Superintendent 

 of Cambria county, makes the following statement: "In this con- 

 nection, we believe it to be in place to quote from the principles 

 expressed by the National Educational Association, at the meeting 

 in Detroit a few days ago. In its 'Declaration of Principles,' one 

 reads thus: 'The National Educational Association watches, with 

 deep interest, the solution of the problem of consolidating rural 

 schools, and the transporting of children at public expense, now at- 



