B6 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



teiii])ted ill many of our leading; States. We believe (bat (his move- 

 ment will lead to the establishment of the country high school, and 

 thus bring- more advanced education to rural communities. We also 

 believe that supplementary State support with rural high schools 

 is in the highest interest of the entire State.' This is the expression 

 not of a bodv of educators in a single State, but of a National bodv, 

 and the latest educational legislation -in Pennsylvania, is in ac- 

 cordance with this principle." 



The Superintendent of Bradford county, Prof. H. S. Putnam, in 

 his report, says: "The problem that confronts the schools in the 

 country districts, and which seems difficult of solution, is the fact 

 that the population is so changed, that there are hardly pupils 

 enough to warrant the continuance of many of the schools. In one 

 district there were four schools, with a total enrollment of thirty- 

 eight, while in another school, in the same district, there was an 

 enrollment of forty-five. Many schools have only four or five pupils, 

 and as much money is expended for the maintenance of these smaller 

 schools as for the larger ones. It seems that there is only one 

 way to do, that is to establish a central school and transport 

 the pupils from the smaller schools to the larger ones." 



Prof. W, E. Longstreet, Superintendent of Tioga county, reports: 

 "The question of the centralisation of rural schools is a live ques- 

 tion in many districts of this county. Public sentiment is growing 

 in that direction. Two or three districts at least are about ready 

 to make the experiment. This question was readily entertained 

 by some, on the ground that it would be cheaper in the sense of 

 requiring less taxation, but more deliberation and investigation 

 has convinced them, that the economy of the scheme will not be 

 in less expenditure of the public fund^, but in greater and better 

 advantages tiiat would be given to the youth of the district, and 

 I am very sure that with only the latter purpose in mind, can the 

 plan ever be made a real success." 



Superintendent Miller, of Columbia county, states, in speaking 

 of the town schools: "But is it right that our town schools shall 

 gain strength at the expense of the country? While we are heartily 

 in favor of a centralized system of rural schools, at the same time 

 we are fully impressed with the opinion, that the time is not yet 

 for the complete realization of our dreams." 



Superintendent Sweeney, of Elk county, reports: "That during the 

 year many graded school buildings were erected throughout the 

 county, and at present all districts have one or more graded schools, 

 where children have an opportunity to thoroughly master the common 



