490 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



offer of state grants. Missouri, Maryland, Xorth and South Carolina 

 have either compulsory or conditional legislation on the subject. 



That the consolidation movement has been responsible for an increase 

 in the number of rural high schools is certain, but exact information is 

 not available. In the bulletins on consolidation frequent mention is 

 made of consolidated schools adding one or more high school years to 

 their curriculum. It is estimated that where local high schools are 

 maintained tlie attendance of pupils of high-school age is increased 

 from 60 per cent to 70 per cent. The presence of the high school has 

 been reactive and in many instances has stimulated the work of the 

 grades and caused a greater number to complete the elementary course. 

 Besides developing out of the grade schools the consolidated high school 

 has had independent growth in many states; districts have joined for 

 the purpose. In New England and the middle west the township is 

 the prevailing unit; in other sections of the country the county high 

 school is favored. Each of these plans has drawbacks and advantages 

 so that several states have provided for the use of any one or all of 

 them. Again we note that if the county were the administration unit 

 the location of high schools could be put upon a more rational and eco- 

 nomical basis. Nineteen states encourage the establishment of the sup- 

 port of rural high schools by direct subsidy, by free tuition, by reim- 

 bursement for free transportation, or by a combination of these methods. 

 It is exceedingly gratifying that the country is beginning to feel that it 

 is quite as much the right of every child to have the benefit of a high 

 school education as to possess that of the elementary school. The course 

 of study adopted in most of these schools does not differ from that of 

 the city, and while there is a great deal said about the necessity of a 

 course of study especially adapted to the country, no one has come for- 

 ward with anything very practical. The Minnesota law encourages the 

 teaching of manual training, domestic science and elementary agri- 

 culture by offering grants to schools so doing. 



It is high time for an awakening in regard to the status of rural 

 education. The gravity of the situation is emphasized if the estimate 

 made by Mr. Foght^ that one half the school population belongs to the 

 rural schools and that 95 per cent never get beyond their respective 

 districts is correct. That the rural school situation is the great problem 

 in the educational world to-day, and that it is to receive the attention of 

 educators at least, is evidenced in the interest manifested last year by 

 the National Educational Association resulting in the appointment of a 

 committee to thoroughly investigate and to recommend means of im- 

 provement, and of awakening the public to a realization of the rural 

 school needs. What will be accomplished by this committte remains 

 to be seen. 



2Foght, "The American Rural School." 



