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COUNTRY LIFE CONVENIENCES 



Consolidated Rural Schools. One of the greatest needs is for 

 better schools. In many States the mistake has been made of 

 creating too many small school districts so that only a short term* 

 of school is possible. A remedy for such a condition lies in con- 

 solidation of two or more of such districts, and maintaining a 

 graded school at some convenient central point in the consolidated 

 district, and providing transportation for the pupils at the ex- 

 pense of the district. This plan relieves the children from the 

 necessity of trudging through the snow and mud. Special wagons 

 are now made for this purpose having curtains, lap robes, and 



A modern country schoolhouse- 



everything else necessary for the protection of the children in cold 

 weather. In some States township graded schools are maintained 

 and have been found very satisfactory. Occasionally small pri- 

 mary schools are maintained in some parts of the consolidated 

 district for the benefit of the very small children. 



Not only should the course of instruction given be carefully 

 graded, but it should be especially arranged with reference to the 

 needs of country life. According to Superintendent O. J. Kern of 

 Winnebago County, Illinois, the consolidated country school offers 

 the following advantages over the average country school: 



