360 Missouri Agncultural Report. 



the schools have fewer than twenty — that 575 have fewer than twelve 

 pupils. Without having had time to procure the figures of later date, 

 I am absolutely certain a revision of figures would show a far stronger 

 tendency downward than does our new tariff bill. And the signifi- 

 cant thing is, similar conditions are found in the majority of the states 

 of the Union, today. 



What has been done in so many places elsewhere to remedy this 

 and equalize educational opportunity for all classes of children? 



The consolidation of country schools into larger and stronger teach- 

 ing units is the happy solution in many j)laces in more than twenty 

 states at this time. 



What is consolidation? Tlie uniting of two, three or more small 

 and weak schools into one, that shall be large enough in point of mem- 

 bers to be interesting, and strong enough in the way of money to afford 

 a comfortable building, two or more good teachers, and reasonable facili- 

 ties for work. It also means that outlying territory with but few chil- 

 dren shall be combined with a nearb}^ school that is strong, rather than 

 be organized as an independent but weak district. These schools should 

 be located so as to be accessable, though not necessarily at the geo- 

 graphic center. 



Consolidation implies either in full or in part the transportation 

 of a portion of the pupils, and this is one of the problems. This is 

 frequently accomplished in covered wagons, artificially warmed, holding 

 fifteen to twenty children, driven by reliable men under contract and 

 bonds as to regularity and good behavior. It has been proven that it is 

 cheaper to transport a few children than to establish a school for them. 



Consolidation also means, where small districts already exist, some 

 changes in buildings. Two or more of the little old buildings are 

 moved together, or one is remodeled with an addition built, thus making 

 a two or three room house ; again, new buildings are erected. All ways 

 are open. The makeshift is to be recommended until the plan is in 

 full operation, when a good permanent building is almost certain to 

 follow in time. 



Hon. W. M. Hayes, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, 

 D. C, said this recently: 



"It has been shown that the rural school needs to be born over 

 into a new life which will fit it for its part — a most important part in 

 the evolution of modern agriculture and modern country home making. 

 The one-room school must become the four-room consolidated school, 

 so that a man trained to teach agriculture and a woman trained to teach 

 home economies may here find that fair wage and that long tenure of 

 office which will warrant them in thoroughly preparing for their impor- 



