WHAT HAS BEEN DONE 



WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. 



Although in only a few states have many teachers' cottages 

 been erected, there are one or more in almost every state, and a 

 rapidly growing sentiment that the consolidation of rural schools 

 and the building of homes for the teachers is the next big educa- 

 tional development in the United States. A brief resume of progress 

 follows. Much of this information is taken from an unprinted re- 

 port of the United States Bureau of Education, prepared from data 

 collected from county superintendents and other rural superin- 

 tendents. Where abstracts are given from the Bureau report, 

 the quotations are from the reports of the county superintendents 

 to the Federal Office. 



Alabama. 



The recent law increasing State aid for the erection, repair and 

 equipment of rural school-houses does not make provision for teachers' 

 cottages. However, we are alive to any openings in the state where 

 such buildings may possibly be erected. The Department realizes the 

 value of teacherages, and hopes that with the erection of consolidated 

 schools, this type of building may go hand in hand. (Wm. P. Feagin, 

 State Superintendent, Montgomery, Ala.) 



* * * * 



Four county superintendents express a desire to have them. Mar- 

 shall County is now building six houses for teachers. Enterprise, Coffee 

 County, bought a cottage for the teacher and paid for it by popular sub- 

 scription. Covington County has one rural school with teacher's cottage 

 and six acres of land; charges small rent. Monroe County has one cot- 

 tage they rent to the teacher. Moran County has two for negro children. 

 Cullman County reports that because they have no cottages many of the 

 married male teachers are forced to give up the teaching profession be- 

 cause in many localities there are no other houses for the teachers to 

 live in. Talladega County reports that their teachers have a good deal 

 of trouble securing suitable boarding places, which is a handicap to the 

 progress of the school. County superintendents advise trustees to secure 

 best boarding place possible for their teachers. Jackson County has one 

 cottage owned by district, furnished free to teachers, a handsome two- 

 story, eight-room building, kept in good repair. By reason of this teach- 

 ers' cottage this school has been able to engage and hold the very best 

 teaching talent in the county. (U. S. Bureau of Education.) 



Arizona. 



No teachers' cottages reported. 



Arkansas. 



School districts are permitted to build such cottages whenever they 

 can and desire to do so. A number of such cottages have been erected 

 in the State in the last three or four years. ( J. L. Bond, Supervisor Rural 

 Schools, Little Rock, Ark.) 



* * * * 



The movement for building teachers' cottages in this county is yet 

 in its infancy, and there is only one in the county. That is a very neat, 

 four-room cottage, built on the corner of the school ground, and is used 

 for a home for the teacher and his family. 



In a short time there will be a general move on the part of the rural 

 districts to build homes for their teachers. (J. D. Swift, County Super- 

 intendent, Blytheville, Ark.) 



Page Twenty-three 



