No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 237 



December. This bulletin was issued in response to a resolution 

 adopted by the Farmers' Institute of Illinois requesting the Agricul 

 tural College of the University to collect and publish exact informa- 

 tion relating to the methods, the difficulties, and the advantages of 

 the consolidation of the country schools. Referring to what has been 

 done the bulletin says: "From the various sources of information 

 consulted, it appears that consolidation commenced in Massachu- 

 setts under the law of 1869, and was first operative in Quincy in 1874, 

 since which time more than 65 per cent, of the townships have found 

 it advantageous to consolidate some schools." In 1893, Supt. Rock- 

 well wrote: "For eighteen years we have had the best attendance 

 from transported children. No more sickness among them, and no ac- 

 cidents. The children like the plan exceedingly. We have saved the 

 townships at least $600 per year." From these and independent 

 centers, the plan has spread until it is in operation to a greater or 

 less extent in twenty states, not of a single section of the Union but 

 of all sections. Among the conclusions arrived at are these: 



At least one-third of the country schools are too small to be even 

 fairly successful. The best teachers are taken for the graded schools, 

 and of those available, for country schools from 50 to 75 per cent, are 

 young girls with no more training than is given in the school they 

 are to attempt to teach. As conditions exist to-day little children 

 walk long distances, and suffer much discomfort and ill health by 

 reason of exposure to storms, and from sitting all day with wet feet 

 and damp clothing, after wading through snow drifts, slush and mud 

 on the way to school. The only humane way of putting children of 

 all ages and conditions into school, through all kinds of weather, is 

 to transport them in wagons that are covered, and when necessary, 

 warmed. Consolidation and transportation tend greatly to lessen 

 expense, so that the same grade of schools can be had much cheaper, 

 or a far better grade at the same expense, as patrons may desire, or 

 if they please, a full equivalent of the best city schools may be es- 

 tablished and conducted at slightly greater cost and at a much lower 

 rate than in the city. As things are to-day, without consolidation, 

 country people pay more for elementary instruction alone, than the 

 city schools cost, including the high school course; but in addition, 

 farmers pay vast sums for tuition and other expenses of their 

 older children attending city schools for what is not offered at home. 

 Consolidation is the only way of securing really good country schools 

 and it is the only means of introducing the study of agriculture gen- 

 erally into our public schools. The objections offered in advance of 

 trial are mostly either fanciful or selfish, and are not realized in 

 practice. Consolidation is the only plan tried or proposed, by which 

 the country child can secure such an education, as modern condi- 

 tions demand and such as is already afforded the city child. It 



