TRAINING FOR COUNTRY LIFE 25 



nouncement at niy fingers' ends to quote literally from the great 

 Dominion, but the educational reports from the Dominion and its 

 Provinces prove the sentiment there prevailing to be precisely the 

 same. In both countries does educational ruralisation keep full 

 pace with the perfecting of instruction from the purely educational 

 point of view. Some of the particular methods there applied are 

 evidently not called for among ourselves. The circumstances are 

 too different. In America the old one-room " red house," or else 

 log schools, are being systematically got rid of as no longer sufficing 

 for their purpose. They are being advisedly replaced by " consoli- 

 dated " schools on account of their recognised educational defects. 

 It is found that they do not any longer do justice to the expectations 

 formed of normal rural schools. Their one teacher, employed 

 indifferently for all subjects — a "maid of all work" — is found to 

 teach these subjects too " indifferently." One small head will not 

 hold all that he is expected, not only to know, but also to have so 

 well at heart as to be able to teach it well, economising time by his 

 apt teaching. And there is a strain upon his physical powers which 

 tends to spoil his teaching. And supervision of such teaching by 

 superiors is rendered difficult by reason of the number and disper- 

 sion of the schools. Hence the clamour for " consolidated schools," 

 into which the old demodees one-room schools are being systemati- 

 cally amalgamated and for which a much more perfect equipment is 

 provided, as well as a staff of better qualified teachers, treating 

 their several subjects severally. Efficient teaching by masters of 

 their subjects makes a very great difference in the results achieved. 

 It economises time and also mental effort and fixes the matter 

 taught ever so much more firmly and abidingly in pupils' minds. 



Of course " consolidation " means bringing children together from 

 more or less distant villages to common centres. That is done in the 

 main with the help of motor omnibuses, which indeed cost money, 

 but the use of which, coupled with the use of one building in the 

 place of several, and an economy in the employment of teaching 

 power, still ensures collectively a substantial saving. Of course, the 

 driving to and from school in the omnibus — sometimes it is drawn 

 by horses — provides great fun for the children and promotes a useful 

 sense of camaraderie. The school being larger, the children in it 

 being more numerous, and a spirit of emulation being awakened, the 

 parents are found to take a more lively interest in the goings on 

 there. And the teaching staff and teaching appliances being greatly 

 improved, it is found that much greater effect can be given to the 

 great aim which national leaders in the matter have distinctly and 



