The Consolidation of Rural Schools 



W. Clement Moore 

 New Egypt, N. J. 



In the administration of rural schools lies a problem worthy of 

 the best skill, the best thought and the most careful attention 

 that can be given to its solution. In America, our greatest 

 opportunity to accomplish real results, lies not so much within 

 the well-built and artistically decorated walls of the million dollar 

 high school of the city, as it does within the less pretentious and 

 often sadly neglected appearing rural school. 



But it happens that at least fifty per cent, of the superintendents 

 supervising principals and supervisors of the country in general, 

 have control over one or more rural schools in addition to the 

 supervision of the town and small city schools -»- county superin- 

 tendents especially have this double problem of advocating plans, 

 methods and suggestions for the government and betternemt of 

 both rural and city schools. It follows naturally that board mem- 

 bers of the same localities will be called upon for decisions relating 

 to both problems. A discussion, therefore, of the status of the 

 rural school in America, might prove both interesting and of 

 practical benefit to all concerned. 



There are just two ways of solving the problem : 

 One method is to dispense with the small rural school and trans- 

 port all of the children to a central consolidated school where better 

 instruction may be given and the children may have the advantage 

 of better light, better heat and better general equipment, besides 

 more expert supervision. 



The other plan is to conserve the natural resources of the district 

 in which the school happens to be located, and bring to it, the 

 best teaching ability, the best equipment, good books for library 

 use, decorations, ample playground material, a course of study 

 adapted to the needs of the locality and a neat, warm modern 

 school-building even if it happens to be only a one room affair. 

 Some superintendents have already solved the problem by 

 using both methods — O. J. Kern for instance, in his work in 

 Winnebago County, Illinois, has not only brought about the build- 

 ing of consolidated schools but has remodeled the old rural schools 

 and rebuilt them so that in many cases the conditions surrounding 



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