HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1921-3-10, Page 7itoba had about 100 Consolidated
School's., The f u-rizers - hereare en-
thusiastic about it: Alberta has
6f1
CONSOLIbATFD w •.
Consolidated Schools. Rittenhouse,
-• Hudson and Mallorytown are the only
Consolidated 'Schools I know of in On,
ley the REV. GEO I. STEPHENSON. tario. Guelph and Neustadt has the
The educational life .of our young
and fair Dominion of Canada has been
one od steady develkpnmeet. We owe
much to Egerton Ryerson :for the
present school system of which we
cannot speak toe highly far ite in-
fluence in its day. But the time has
come for another forward step and
the subject for our consideration to-
day, Consolidated Schools, is one
which should engage the serious
t_heeght of every Canadian citizen be-
cause it is a much improved system
to our present one, and is now rapidly.
superseding it. •
In both Canada and the United
States representatives of the Educe-
tional Department are travelling.
through the country continually del-
ivering lectures on this question,,aed
pamphlets sent out by the Depart-
ment, , . o iand daily
.eat, exicy cl ped as the. d
press emphasize its great advantages
both to the individual and the com-
munity and recommend its adoption
at the earliest convenience.
Let us consider first of all why such
A change is necessary.
1. Rent depopulation. We all know
of instances yearly of parents who
have left the country and have gone
to the city or town for the sole pur
rasa of giving theirchildrenbetter
educational advantages. Mrs. Brodie,
who addi'essecl the U.F.O.Lconvention
at Toronto, said that she had come to
the city recently in order to give her
children better educational advantages
but she liked the country better than
the city-, and that just as soon as her
children were through school she in-
tended to return. It was surely a
worthy motive for leaving the farm
and going to the city, but why go to
the city when you may have equal
educational advantages ett your door?
S. Short term of teacher. The av-
erage length of time the rural school'
teacher stays in one school is between
one and one and a • half years. One
teacher gets nicely started and is just
learning the nature of her scholars
and her community when she leaves
and a new teacher conies along. There
are many causes for this frequent
change of teachers -among thein are
marriages, low salaries, difficulty in
i cruring boarding place, overcrowded
Schools or too small schools and
classes,•
2. 'Changing conditions. In 18555 it
required 40 hours of labor to produce
a bushel of corn; under modern con-
ciitions it only requires 41 minutes.
To -day we have inodern conveniences,
as telephones, telegraphs, rural mail,
express trains, refrigerator cars, fast
ocean steamers, wireless telegraphy,
aeroplanes, .ete,, and we find .ourselves
competing in a world market, With
the advent of electricity more delicate
machines are used and more thorough.
ealueatfon is required, Civic govern-
ment and national economy demand a
larger iutelligenee and wider skill in
our manhood and womanhood, Can
one or two teachers in an ungraded
echool, with the work of all the
grades, meet this urgent call?
d, Educational Research and Semen -
title Discovery, Our ideas have been
ebanged in the past few'' years as to
what purpose the school should fulfil
in the life of the child. Educational
research teaches us the importanee of
Agriculture, Domestic Science, Gard-
ening,Ffanual Training, Art and
Music. By the use of apparatus and
electricity, pictures rimy be used to
illustrate and teach faets. When we
considezfi that 80 per cent. of what a
child learns he takes in through the
eye we can readily appreciate this ad-
vantage In a. Consolidated School.
Moreover when a child plants a gar-
den plot under the scientific instruc-
tion of a teacher he gets a training
he cannot get through study alone.
Favorable conditions for teaching
these subjects are necessary.
• 5. Lack of opportunity. The present
system shows a lack of equality of
opportunity for an education. Sta-
tisties prove that it takes one and one-
half years longer for a boy or girl in
the rural district to get his or her en-
trance examination than a boy or girl
with Consolidated or city advantages.
Then they have to leave home if they
go at all -and go to High School in
some town or city at a distance, and
the result is that many fall out and
fail. to go at all. The new law which
comes into effect next September re-
quiring - all _ children (with certain
exceptions) to attend school till
16 years of age, will help to
obviate the difficulty of lost
education but it does not solve
the problem of sending the child away:
from horse, Statistics appear to show;
that in the United States only half as!
many complete the elementary grades!
under the graded rural sehbols as
under the Consolidated. School, Is this.
fair to our country boys and girls ?1
If 'we can get a High School at our,
door for two-thirds of Ontario's boys!
and girls, what is it worth? What is!
it worth physically, mentally, eco--:
omically and industrially to have four
times as many get a high school train -1
ing?
6. Unfair handicap in reeitatiens. s
Our present system deprives a child
of his possible number and length of
recitations, A child has approximate -i
ly 8,800 hours in his elementary sehooi;
life, in which to acquire habits of i.
study, discipline, methods, and other.!
things that education means. Howl
much personal attention from the
teacher does be get? In 1918 the av--
erage attendance at elemeetery
schools in Ontario was 65 per emit./
This reduces the possible number of i
hours 8,800 to 0,720. A comparison of'
the time spent in study and recitation
in ungraded schools and Consolidated
Schools shows that in the ungraded
schools about 16 per cent. of the time
is spent in recitation, or 815 hours out
of 5,720, and the balence 4,905 home.
in study or desk work; whereas, under
Consolidation, 50 per cent. of the time
is spent in each way, giving 2,8110
hours for. each, As the average at-
tendance is also inereased under Con-
solidation from 15 to 95 p€r cent. that
means an increase of actual attend-
ance hours to about 6,800, and reel-
tatiotm hours to 3,400. Compare this
with 81.55 hours and aek is this fair to
your child.
7. The need of new buildings and
equipment. The attendantiee may have
increased until the building has be-
come too small to provide adequate
accommodation or, as in many cases,
the buildings have deteriorated and
are unsafe and unhealthy, and people
with ambition want the best type of.
education and equipment possible.
Other defective conditions are poor
system of ventilation or no system at
all; poor heating ssytenl; lighting poor
toad from both sides; shiny black-
boards; color decorations dark (the
three last tending to produce eye-
strain); floors scrubbed only three or
four Unice a year; the drinking water
usually from a common eup which
tends to spread disease; seats double
and not adjustable, and out -houses un-
eanitary. Every one of these town -
tions limit the efficiency of the sys-
tem and so a Iarge part of the money
spent in our present system is lost.
What is the Consolidated School
System and to what extent has it
made progress?
A several roomed building erected.
in a central place, preferably a village,
by the ratepayers of a number of
school sections living close together
who decide to unite and have instead
of 5 or 6 or 7 de more small schools
scattered -miles apart, one well equip-
ped building large enough for all the
children in all the sections ea -operat-
ing; with modern equipment for edu-
cational -training in elementary or
more advanced grades or both, sup-
plied with the best trained and ex-
perienced teachers, and scholars
brought in vans for a radius of 5 or 6
miles around is what may be gener-
ally considered a Consolidated School.
It is long since past the experimental
stage and has surely come to stay and
to replace the preset system, at
least where people are; alert enough
and wise enough to see its benefits
and adopt it. Our Educational De-
partment tells us that the first Con-
solidated School was established in
Montague, Mass., U.S., in the •same
year as the Ontario Agricultural Col-
lege at Guelph, 1874. Forty-seven
years of successful work should con-
vince us of its merits. It was an idea
worked out by a group of farmers
who had the s'anle difficulties to face
as mentioned above. The United States
had in 1919, thirteen tl et sand Con-
solidated Schools, an increase of three
thousand. average
1916 -an avera :e
growth of one thousand each year.
Forty-three' states of the Union have
adopted Consolidation of rural school's
as their policy. Three years:ago Man-.
Fmrineiple on a email scale. Ceelegulie
sehool; section in Carrick township
Bruce County, elosed their school and
are driving the children to Neustadt.
The children are delighted and the
school section saves $530 a year,
which is about the 'cost of the trans-
portation. The school at Hudson was
burned about three years ago and the
ratepayers decided by an almost un.�
animous vote to rebuild the Consoli-
dated School.
From actual experience in Consoli-
dated Schools what benefits have been
derived by, the pupils?
1. Better grading and classification.
In the majority ,of cases not more than
two grades need oe,.upy one room.
This arrangement allows teachers to
specialize more and gives more lime
fer recitations and personal work.
2. A large number in the class.
stimulates interest, enthusiasm and
competition.
3. A closer grading, as compared
with a one -roomed school, cuts down
the average number of recitations per
day for each teacher from 24 to 12 and
lengthens the period of recitation from
10 to 18 minute•.
4. Less absence from 'eheol, which
means i
ea s n oil' recitations/ and covering
the workmore
more quickly and sat•
fa .
is. y
•.
ctoril •.
5. A GAIN (W ONE AND A HALF
TEARS IN COMPLETING THE
ELEMENTARY ARY SCHOOL WORK.
Consider the re•uits of this en the
number who would continue at schooe'.
and take up high School studies.
6, Because of the availability of
Continuation work and more attrae-
tive school conditions and the privi-
lege of boarding at home many pupils
stay for a longer period at school.. A
comparison of 8 Consolidated School
townships with District School town-
ships showed that twice as many fin -
'relied their elementary grades under
Consolidation and six times as many
took Continuation School work.
7. Better and wider training; Fewer
teachers are necessary, hence teachers
with higher certificates and training
can he secured. 1'lebere three or more
teachers are engaged in a school it is
possible to secure specialists in differ-
ent subjects -where in an ungraded
school the teaeher cannot specialize in
all subjects --or introduce Manual
Training, Agriculture, Domestic
Science, etc.
8. High School advantages with less
Broken in Service of His Country.
Woodrow Wilson, who lea the since
of President of the 'Leafed States on
March 4. Pbc.t:, thaws him as he is
to -day, broken and decrepit, after two
ter'1l15 fn oik".
expense and moral danger. A Con -
'n t'
th ua .enh
Ss aaIl is a•^ a^ ll - brought
.,cr 4a � bra
to the door of every f farmer in the Con? !
olidated. School area wixieh will, when;
properly organized, take the pupil up'
to the ttatrie:ait;.ion or to Normal Entt
trance. Think of the advantage of"
a
this without the expense of boarding-
in
oardingin a town or city or the moral dang-
ers
anP-ers of being away from home at the'
most eritieal time of the child's life.
Is that not well worth while?
9. C a.operarion, or team -play. In
the aeeenb'eage of large numbers of
beth sexes the play life can be better
organized and the co-operative spirit
developed. This -leans much in later
life, To learn how to co-operate midi
carry through a work successfully
with athero in spite' of injustices, op -1
position, and disappointments, in a
kindly spirit, is a part of education
which is well worth while, The Con-
solidated Sch',ad fosters this spirit.
10. An increased earning capacity,
Cornell Agricultural College some
years ago, in investigating the labor
income of a tiousond farmers, found
that, the group who had only B,irlie
School e:lueation made $318 a year,
that with a high School edue;stion
made $622 and these with a College
education -made ,847 a year. Every
year of additional education was
worth from $60 to 875 a year in labor
income.
What are the edvanta.ce from the
standpoint of School T'ail,linge, Ad-
tninistration, an 0W WI.iration
?
Weekly Report
Re art
Toronto. ies are quoting for churning cream,.
Manitoba wheat -No. 1 Northern, 62e per lb. fat, f.o.b. shi ing points.
$1.9311• No. 2 Northern, $1.9015: No. Smoked meats--Rolis,p30 to 33c;
3 Northern, $1.8611; No. 4 wheat, hams, med., 36 to 38e; heavy, 31 to
$1.803x. 33e; cooked hams, 53 to 57c; backs,
50 to 55e; breakfast bacon, 42 to 45c•
Manitoba- oats -No. 2 CW, 50e; No.
3„
OW, 4 . e; extra N o. 1 feed, 15 ,, c; speeial, 48 to 53e; cottage roils, .,.i
No. 1 feed, 43%e; No. 2 feed, 40v1,e. to 35e.
Manitoba barley -No. 3 CW, 801,3e: Green meats -Out of pickle le less
No. 4 OW, 770%-e; rejected, 591ee; than smoked.
feed, 59% e. Barrelled Meats• -Bean pork, $35;
All above in store Fort William. short cut or family back, boneless, $40
Ontario wheat--.F.o.b. shipping to $47; pickled rolls, ;152 to $56; mess
paints, according to freights outside, pork, $38 to $41,
No, 2 spring, $1.75 to $1.80; No. 2 Dry salted cleats -Long clears, in
winter, $1.85 to $1.90; No. 2 goose tens, 23 to 25c; in cases, 231e to 25x,;le;
wheat, $1.70 to $1.80. clear bellies, 27% to 281ere; fat backs,
• American corn Prompt shipment, 22 to 24c.
No. 2 yellow, track, Toronto, 95e, nom- Lard -Tierces, 2014 to 20%e; tubs,
inal. 20%e to 2114; pails, 21 to 21lie;
Ontario oats -No. 3 white, 47 to prints, 22 to 221,ec; shortening, tierces,
49c, according to freights outside.
burley -Malting, 80 to 90e, accord-
ing to freights outside.
13 to 13%e; prints, 15c per lb.
Good heavy steers, $9 to $10; but-
cher steers, choice, $8.50 to $9.50; do,
Ontario flour -Winter, prompt ship- good, $7.50 to $8.50; do, med., $6.50 to
meat, straight run bulk, seaboard, $7.50; butcher heifers, choice, $8.50 to
$8.00,
Peas -No. 2, $1.50 to $1.60, outside.
Manitoba flour -Track, Toronto:
First patents, $10.70; second patents,
$10.20.
Buckwheat -No. 2, $1 to $1.05.
Rye -No. 2, nominal; Ne. 3, $1.50
to $1.55.
Millfeed-Carlots, delivered, To-
ronto freights, bags included: Bran,.
per ton, 837; shorts, per ton, $35;
white middlings, $40; feed flour, $2.40.
Eggs -New laid, cartons, 51 to 53e;
new laid, 49 to 50c.
Butter--Creaniery prints, 55 to 59e;
freeli made, 58 to 61e; bakers', 38 to
45c..
Oleomargarine --Best grade, 29 to
32c.
Cheese -Large, 32 to 33c twins, 38
to 34e,
Maple syrup -One -gal. tins, $3.50.
Hones, extracted -White clover, , in.
60 and: 80-1b. tins, per i!b. 21 to 22c;
do, 10 -Ib. tins, per lb., 22 to 28c; On-
tario No. 1 white clover, in 2%-5-1b.
tins per lb., 23 to 24c
$9.50; do, med., $7 to $8, do, corn.,
$6.50; butcher cows, choice, $8 to $9;
do, med., $5 to $7; canners and cut-
ters, $3.50 to $4; butcher bulls, good,
86 to.$8; do, fair, $5.50 to $6; do corn.,
$4 to $5; feeders, good, 900 lbs., $7 to
$8; do, 800 lbs., $6.50 to $7; -milkers
and springers, choice, $100 to $150;
calves, choice, $15 to $16; do, med.,
$13 to $14; do, com., e5 to $10; lambs,
$12 to $18.75; sheep, choice, $6.50 to
$8; do, heavy and bucks, $4 to $5; do,
yearlings, $10 to $10.50; hogs, fed
and watered, $14; do, off cars, $14.25;
do, f.o.b., $13; do, to the farmer,
$12.75.
r,; Montreal.
Oats, Can. West., No. 2, 68e; do. No.
3, 64c. Flour, Man. spring: wheat pat-
ents, firsts, $10.70. ..Bolled oats, bag,
90 lbs., $3.40. Bran, $38.25. • Shorts,
$36.25. Hay, No. 2, per ton, ear lets,
$24 -
tob,.5.•
• Cheese, , finest easterns, 293z to
29%%c. Butter, choicest creamery,
53% to 54•e. Eggs, fresh, 50c.
Ofiurning Crean -Toronto creamer- Hogs; $15;; veal calves, $10 to $13.
REGLA,RFELLERS-By Gene- Ernes
1. Better supervision. Under the:
present District School System the Ie'- I
speetor cannot visit oftener than twice s
a year, and mistakes whieh are now
xlegleetcd would be seen and reme,lied l
by the experieneed-Principal who up-
t
ervises the work' ef the other teach-
ers in the Consolidate.j School.
2, An enlarged enrollment, and in-'
creased average attendance. In 16
schools in Amabel township, Bruce .
county, including 5. Union' Schools,l
the number on the roll for 1920 was
431, and the average attendance was''
321. The average attendance was 74.4
per cent. of the enrolment. In the 9
schools in Arran township the en
raiment last year was 221 and the'
average attendance 1.49, Isere the
average attendance was 87.7 per eent.
This is fair, but under Consolidation
both the enrolment, and the average
attendance would be increased. ` In a
large area investigated the enrolment'
before Consolidation was 3,185 ail -1
dram The same territory after Con-
solidation enrolled 4,814, a gain of
1,629 or 51 per cent. In the same
area the average attendance before:
Consolidator)`.
was
2,107 or GG per:
cert., whereas, after Coesolidatic,n it $
was 3,617 or 75 per cent. x
3. Punctuality, The wagans, vans,4
ears or sleighs run en schedule time,a
bringing the children to school warm,-
and with dr' feet. so that the schoal'
may open sharp on time with all;
present, and the lessons may go on;
without interruptions.
1
4. Regular attendance. Fluctuation
in attendance is also avoided. The
large number attending tends to keep
the average e
much the same. Teachers
who have had to ehange their day's
programme because of the atr.-ence of
2 or 3 pupils and then had to go over
the same work with them at some
future time know the benefit this.
mvoeld be.
5. Economy. Instead of a terieber's;
room, library. eloak roams, ballets, ,
halls and class rooms in every school,,
these are united in one. Econanmy is
also effeeted in reeitztion periods,'
energy and concentration of the:
teacher, length ef time necessary to
reach Entrance Examinations, time of
Inspectors travelling. from school to
school, correspondence, etc.
6, Hygienic conditions. This will
be found in the cit ;tactor and decore-
tions of the class rooms, lighting,
heating, ventilation, single desks,
water, toilets, transportation, play
grounds and play equipment, ant the
hxecessary number of children mal;ing
possible vigorous. enthusiaasti,e and
health -giving play.
7. Improved Community Life. This
is brought about by the equalization
of taxation and opportunity, the ex -
mien of educational facilities to the
whole community,good roads which
follow in the wake of Consolidation,
the provision of a dignified social
centre, special school equipment, a
community playground, and developed
leadership, Think of the advantage
of these things to the Churches, the
Farmers' Clubs and the community in
general. The children receiving bet-
ter education will be happier and more
useful and they will remain at home
longer. Every boy and girl then can
receive a high School education with-
out whielh in this rapidly developing
age they will surely be handicapped.
.tny normal maxi or woman under
ordinary circumstances can make
money, but it is more difficult and
more important to make a life,
How much more than the present
system win the Consolidated School
cost? If you are content with the
same buildings, teachers, equipment,
and curriculum as at present the
Consolidated School costs less. Con-
solidation is not urged to -day as a
means to cheapening education but
of better=ing it. With that view in
-hind it will cost more -probably from
a third to a half more than the pres-
ent system. But remember all the
special benefits derived both in educa-
tional and community life. The self -
binder costs more than the cradle or
the reaper but no one' would go back
to these. Neither do those, under
normal conditions, who have once
thoroughly tried the Consolidated
School, go back or want to go back.
What financial assistance will the
Government give? According to the
Ontario Department of Education the
grants are as follows: ---
1, $3,000 towards the eost of build-
ing if erected and in operation by Dec,
22nd, 1922.
2. 30 per cent. of the cost of the
building and site whose value does
not exceed 5 per cent. of the total
equalized assessment of the area eon-
solidated.. 37% per cent. if between 5
*SURE!
`THE Bid NANb
(s FMR' ter MtNtls
'1't�•lE LITTL.ts.
Np.Nte' is Foi..THE
�r�u1�s
and 10 per cent., but the grant is lint.
ited at $9,000.
3. An annual grant of 30 per cent,
of cost of transportation where such
cost does not exceed 5 reels; 37% per
cent. if between 5 and 10 mills;; and
4e per eent. if above 10 -mills.
4. $100 toward the salary of each.
teacher in the Con eolidaied School
who is receiving at least a standard
salary.
5. A grant for purchasing a piano,
which is payable 'within 3 years.
6. 25 per cent of the eost of cert
tain other equipment, e.g. Agricultur-
al, Domestic Science, ;Manual Train-
ing, etc. Maximum $200. .
7. All grants for which the present
school sections are eligible will be
continued. If seven rural schools con-
solidatell the township grants would:
be paid on the basic: of the seven reed
schools.
8. If the community derides to build
a Community Hall in tonne:A on with
the School -the Hall is usualy Walt
:decree it ---the grant will be 2 ► per cent.
of the additional cost. This is pro-
vided according; to the Cannurn ty
Nall Act of
131.►,
But hese above the bleeping, ef the
roads in the winter?
This diffiettley, while et t s an -
pears eornxidable. has neve. yet pr eeed
a serious difficulty, ram '3 the eahoo:=s
in Northcra: Ontar.o are sutther wee --
During ode year in Ma x i''. N :•a, unlee-
average conditions, th6-:e were e3
Consolidated Schools with
61 vere
22
which reported wily traps r3lG e'1
in one year, an average u.r
only G°hn
trip per sehotrl in the sear. At Hue -
son, in Northern Ontario, where i.e
winter roads are us teal ala aany'r:here
in Ontario, for the wiet<ee of 1917-18;
not one trip was .naiseetl. Their route,
are 0 miles long. One stormy day
reeent1, 100 per cent. were p eseet,
whereas, in a nearby shoal, only 10
per cent. were p:•e:ienr hantree of the
storm.
Othee liha=es of this b.ro`deat
be prceented. If is teresre• i send t
the Dc pt. of Valuation fer ,heir mated
pamphlet on f.m:steela ed Selene -
wheel will give you many of the Lett,
t,
presenter here, wort ed out in grec'-
er deta?l, as well a sad: r, other 3:1c:S
of inters st,
University Fees,
Should univer: Sty education be fol
the rich only or should it be as free
at public sehool education? S" handl
brains or money determine a studerees
1 fitnees 3p enter university? This
question will he answer/ d in the re-
port of the Royal Colhtnui,slon and in
the Province's aceeptance or rejection
of its findings.
To a Provincial University money
comes from only two sources -•gave
er'tnnentsupport anal students' fees.
It is true that liberal private bene-
r factions are ileo received, but they
are always for some designated ob-
ject, scholarships, on fellowships, of
professorships, or buildings for some
spceific purpeee, So it is correct to
say that if government support is
adequate, university education may
be practically free. If government
support fails, fees must rise and the
sons find daughters of the average
citizen, as well as the young men and
women who are "making their own
way" through college, will be debarred
from the education to which their in-
tellectual ability entitles them.
The following figures, showing the
fees for the first year in the Arts
course in several universities, are in-
teresting: University of Toronto, $40;
Yale, $306; Harvard, $250; Princeton,
$250; Pennsylvania, $250; Cornell,
$200; Chicago, $180; Wisconsin, $154;
Michigan, 8105; M„GilI, $100; Minne-
sota, $90.
The old-time theory that only the
man with children attending school
should pay zehool taxes has long since
been exploded, because now everyone
realizes that education is the nation's
chief business. Just as unreasonable
is the theory that those who desire
university education should pay the
whole cost of it --such a position is the
very opposite of democratic,
Population of Winnipeg
Reaches 282,818
A despatch from Winnipeg says: -
The population of greater Winnipeg
m 282,818, ae ir.
cord
sto figures in
the
g
1921 .1 cf1y directory, just issued. This
is the greatest gain recorded since
1914, and a jump of 10,350 over the
1920 figures.
trre
\'1 W haet.eS OWLY
` TWELVE. elcaeR9 or -1
Tt4m CLock.. P,14'
IT Rut4s 13e c.t�. -r
ck 4e. A�A1l�
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