354 RURAL MICHIGAN 



200,000 children were then being taught in the 

 7,280 rural schools where such inexpert instruction 

 was in order. It is estimated that 65 per cent of the 

 one-room rural schools of Michigan maintain in- 

 struction during nine months of the year, 21 per 

 cent for eight months, 10 per cent for seven months, 

 and -f per cent for less than seven months. Forty- 

 nine per cent of such schools is estimated to main- 

 tain ventilating systems. Forty-eight per cent was 

 below the department's standard of size. Sixty per 

 cent had two-side cross-lighting, and 25 per cent 

 three- or four-side cross-lighting. Only 34 per cent of 

 the schools had the requisite quantity of natural 

 light — a ratio of window-space to floor-space of one to 

 five being the approved standard. Even schools with 

 the standard quantity of natural light frequently had 

 it improperly distributed. Medical inspection and 

 school nursing were very largely lacking.^ 



On the positive side, it may be stated that the 

 general laws of the State, as related to rural schools, 

 provide for compulsory attendance; county normal 

 training schools for the training of rural school 

 teachers; a uniform and approved course of study; 

 physical education in all schools, with required in- 

 struction in districts of more than 3,000 popula- 

 tion; fire-drills; the approval of the plans of all 

 school buildings costing over $300, by the depart- 

 ment of public instruction of the State; for ventila- 



* Rural Education in Mich. : Mich. State Teachers' Assoc, 

 pub. Kalamazoo, Oct., 1920. 



