Centralization in this county has resulted in the building of auditoriums in connection with each consolidated school, which are used by adults as well as children as a center for holding social gatherings of all kinds. In many of the schools moving-picture machines are installed, and regular exhibitions are given. Other effects of consolidation reported by county superintendents follow: Highways have been improved in all parts of the county. Whenever a new consolidated school is erected, the county road commissioners lend their aid immediately. The county convicts grade the school yards and roads leading to the various schools. Soon all is put in order and the problem of good roads in that community is solved; 1.625 miles of good roads in this county have resulted largely from consolidation. Rural communities that at one time seemed remote can now be reached by automobile in an hour's time, or in a few minutes' time by telephone. Telephones have been installed in many parts of the county, many of them local phones. All schools are connected by telephones. This would have seemed quite impossible a few years ago. The value of land has doubled in some communities since the erection of modern school buildings, and all property has increased in value. People realize more and more the importance of education, and the school problem ranks with the business problem when it comes to the question of making a home in the community. Another county superintendent reports: The school buildings are used for all kinds of community meetings, farmers institutes, community clubs, parent-teacher associations, farmers' clubs, com munity socials, lecture courses, school plays and concerts, and commencement exerc.ses. These have brought people together who otherwise were almost; unknown to each other and would have remained so, and whose influence for good upon the community would thereby have been lost. Perhaps no one thing offered by the consolidated school does more for the elevation of community life than music. Through the influence of the school the quality of the music used in the homes has been raised; new instruments, have been purchased; a greater number of children take lessons; many join the school orchestra; and in general the whole community has been aroused to an appreciation of a higher grade of music. WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1922 Rural School Leaflet No. 2. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, D. C, April, 1922. TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE. Specialist in Rural Education. Transportation of pupils to the public schools is specifically provided for by the school laws of 43 States. The remaining 5 States-Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming-permit transportation under the authority granted to school trustees or directors to provide for the general welfare of their school districts. The minimum distance, from the home of the pupil to the school, where transportation is made mandatory or permissible in five States is 1 mile, in three it is 14 miles, and in eight 2 miles. In the other States the school authorities are permitted to regulate the distance, which is usually 2 miles. Pupils who live on the regular transportation routes but at a less distance from the school building than the minimum are frequently given permission to ride, provided the conveyances are not overcrowded. Eight States, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin, provide State aid for transportation. There are other States that use State funds for this purpose, provided there is nothing in the appropriation to prevent such use of State aid. TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION. So varied are the types of transportation in use, it is impossible to describe each one. The most common types are the horse-drawn wagon, van, or hack, and the gasoline-driven autobus. In Northern States, when the snow is deep in winter and the sleighing excellent, the body of the school van is frequently transferred to runners. Another type of horse-drawn transportation for winter use is a special body made for an ordinary bobsleigh, covered with tightly closed canvas to make it wind proof. The seats in this body run lengthwise, and its width is ample for the comfort of the children. This is a light, cheap, and convenient method of winter transportation during sleighing time, and among other places is used in sections of South Dakota. A comfortable and convenient type of horse-drawn transportation is a wide school van with glass windows which can be easily opened or closed. The autobus which is so rapidly coming into use is of three general types: An ordinary five to seven passenger car, used where but a few pupils are to be transported; a small truck with seats usually on the side, with a capacity of 99540°-22 from 10 to 24 pupils; finally, the large auto school bus with seats down the center and on the sides, with a carrying capacity of 50 or 60 pupils or even more. In southern California "open-air" trucks are in use. They are convenient, comfortable, and cheaper than most of the other large heavy types, but the Northern, Central, and Western States must use inclosed bodies. The manufacture of an autobus with a body that can be transferred to the running gear of a wagon has been attempted, but not perfected. The necessity for a combination of this kind is found in a few localities when, during the rainy season, the roads are impassable for autos for from a few days to several weeks during the school term, but when horse-drawn transportation is still possible. Other types not so common are ferries, rowboats, launches, trolleys, and railroads. The State of Washington uses almost every type of transportation except the aeroplane and submarine. Horse-drawn vehicles at present outnumber the other types. They are, however, fast being displaced by the more rapid and more comfortable autobusses. In hilly and mountainous country, except where the roads are in unusually good condition, the horse-drawn vehicle is usually the only type that serves the purpose. The State of Colorado, with its good roads, is using over 400 autobusses and 48 horse-drawn vehicles in its 146 consolidated districts. Over 90 per cent of the children transported ride in the autobusses.1 The percentage of pupils transported by the different types in the State of Massachusetts in 1919 was approximately as follows: * By trolley‒‒ By horse-drawn vehicle. By motor bus____ By railroad 2 47 per cent. 32 per cent. 18 per cent. 3 per cent. In the State of In Massachusetts transportation on the ferries is allowed. Washington transportation by launches and even by rowboats is provided for school children in the Puget Sound counties. HEATING, LIGHTING, AND SANITATION. Safety, convenience, and comfort are the points to be considered in selecting any type of school transportation. Even during extreme cold weather foot warmers rather than stoves are preferred in the horse-drawn vehicles. The auto conveyance may be heated from the exhaust, may have electric lights, and even fans. The upholstering should be of material that can easily be brushed or cleaned, and the floor should be tight. A covering for the seats and back, made of washable material is used in some vans. The floor, windows, etc., must be cleaned frequently, and the van inspected daily by the superintendent or principal. COST OF TRANSPORTATION. During the school year 1920-21 sixteen States-Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont-transported 233,606 pupils at an average monthly cost of $3.50 per pupil. This cost in a few in 1 Consolidated Schools of the Mountains, Valleys, and Plains of Colorado. Col. Bul., June, 1921, by C. G. Sargent. Colo. Agri. * Consolidation of Schools and Transportation of Pupils at Public Expense in Massachusetts. Bul. No. 6, 1920. stances includes the original cost of conveyances and the construction of a garage. Eliminating these items, the cost per pupil is approximately $3 a month, or 15 cents per day. Reports available from 37 States for 1920-21 show that the sum of $15,350,814 was spent for transportation, but the number of pupils transported was not given. The total amount of school funds expended for transportation during the school year 1917-18 in Massachusetts represented 2.18 per cent of all expenditures for the support of the public schools. The report from Massachusetts was the only complete report on transportation received. In Jackson Township, Preble County, Ohio, 11 horse-drawn hacks were displaced by 4 autobusses, and the daily cost per pupil was reduced from 30.4 cents to 25.9 cents. For the entire county of Preble, where 20 autobusses and 60 horse-drawn hacks were used, the cost per child per day was 26.4 for the motor busses and 20.5 cents for the horse-drawn hack. The cost per mile one way showed but little difference, 3.7 cents for the motor and 3.6 cents for the hack. All auto transportation costs depend largely upon salary of driver, care of machines, and type of machine used. If it is possible to secure teachers as drivers, as it is in the large open-country consolidated school of Sargent, Colo., where 11 of the 12 autobusses are driven by teachers (9 of the 11 are women), the cost may be much reduced. The teachers at the Sargent school receive $25 a month for this extra service, while other consolidated districts in the same locality pay to outside help as drivers $40 a month, a saving in driver's salary alone of $1,485 for the school year of nine months. Another important item in costs is the proper care of the autobusses by competent mechanics. The Jordan High School in Utah has solved the problem for that school by building a fire-proof mechanics' building, dimensions 102 by 62 feet, with cement floor inside and large parking platform outside. Here the 11 large autobusses are cared for by student help under expert direction and at a minimum cost to the district. Depreciation, which may be added to service costs in autobusses, has been estimated at from 10 to 20 per cent a year with ordinary care; with extra care it is possible to lessen this percentage. Neglect to provide proper care for the school autobusses during the three months of summer adds to the depreciation. The average school autobus should give at least five years of good service and show fully 100,000 miles of travel. Transportation costs are increasing each year. The better types of conveyances, whether horse drawn or gasoline driven, cost more in the beginning, but give greater satisfaction. Light and cheap autobusses are not recommended; they cost much more for repairs and fuel and they give least service for the money expended. CONTRACTS WITH DRIVERS. The usual method of providing transportation for public-school pupils is to call for bids for the kind and type of transportation desired. In this call specifications are made that afterwards appear in the contract which the driver signs. These specifications state the length of route to be traveled; type of auto or other conveyance to be used; whether the driver or the school trustees shall supply the conveyance (the tendency seems to be strongly in favor of Consolidation of Schools and Transportation of Pupils at Public Expense in Massachusetts. Bul. 6, 1920. Consolidated Rural Schools and the Motor Truck. Bul. No. 6, Firestone Ship by Truck Bureau, Firestone Park, Akron, Ohio. July, 1920. district-owned conveyances); and other items intended to secure the safety and comfort of the pupils transported. Bonds for the faithful fulfillment of the contract are required of all drivers by the school laws of Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and Missouri. The State school laws applying to transportation in a number of the States are so specific and exacting in their requirements for drivers, and so carefully safeguard the children who must be transported, that school directors in those States often do not require bonds, but it is always understood the contractor must fulfill every condition required by law. One example of such a State (Indiana) school law is quoted; the others are similar in their requirements: It shall be the duty of township trustees to hire drivers for such wagons or conveyances who shall furnish safe teams, except when automobiles are used. In all cases such drivers shall be 18 years of age or older and of good moral character, and must be experienced in the handling of teams or the driving of automobiles, depending on which is used.-Acts of 1919, p. 11. Such driver shall not sublet such contracts for driving school conveyances under penalty of forfeiture: Provided, That in the ease of illness or unavoidable absence substitutes be temporarily appointed: Provided, That such substitutes shall meet with the approval of the township trustees and shall possess the same qualifications as specified in section 6 of this act. In order to provide for the safety of school children, it shall be unlawful for any person or persons driving any township wagon or conveyance, as is herein provided for, and used for the purpose of carrying children to and from school, to permit such wagon or conveyance to cross or enter upon the track or tracks of any steam or electric railroad, upon approaching thereto, without having first brought such wagon or conveyance to a full stop and having some one responsible occupant of such wagon or conveyance get out, walk ahead to such track or tracks, and declare the same to be clear, after having looked in both directions for approaching trains or cars.-School Laws, 1917, pp. 151-52. RULES ADOPTED BY SCHOOL BOARDS. The Montgomery County (Ala.) Board of Education adopted the following rules for drivers, which are given because they contain the essential features of 10 sets of rules received from other counties and State departments: RULES GOVERNING DRIVERS OF CONVEYANCES FOR CHILDREN IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOLS. 1. The driver of a truck must not pass a railroad crossing until it has been properly flagged. A railroad crossing is properly flagged when the truck comes to a complete stop; the captain gets out and stands on the crossing until the truck has crossed it. 5 2. A truck, while children are in it, must not be run over 17 miles per hour and not more than 5 miles per hour over wooden bridges. 3. While on the road, trucks must be run at least 75 yards apart. 4. No driver has authority to change the adjustment of a carburetor, governor, or any part of a truck, unless in case of emergency, and then he must report the change made to the head mechanic immediately upon arrival at the garage. 5. Drivers must observe all commonly accepted "rules of the road." 6. Trucks must not be run with choke open. 7. Trucks must never be left in gear while stopped. 8. The driver must not leave the truck while the motor is running. 9. Unless in case of emergency, or by direction of the principal, no truck shall be stopped on the road. 10. The driver must keep a clean personal appearance when driving a truck in which children are being transported. Greasy overalls and unkempt appearance should be studiously avoided in the presence of pupils. The pupil selected as such. |