social isolation a serious drawback 27

_b._ Grave moral dangers arising from social isolation 28

_c._ Rural environment more dangerous to youth
than city environment 29

_d._ Effects of monotony on adults 30

4. The rural school as a social center 30

5. The ideal rural school building and equipment 32

6. Social activities centering in the school 33

7. Reorganization needed to make the rural school
effective as a social and intellectual center 34

=The Consolidation of Rural Schools=

1. Consolidation the first step toward rural school
efficiency 35

2. Irrationality of present district system 36

3. Obstacles in the way of consolidation 37

4. The present movement toward consolidation 38

5. Effects of consolidation 40

_a._ On attendance 41

_b._ On expense 41

_c._ On efficiency 42

6. The one-room school yet needed as a part of the
rural system 42

=Financial Support of the Rural School=

1. Lack of adequate financial support of rural schools 43

2. Difference in city and rural basis for taxation 44

3. Low school tax characteristic of rural communities 45

4. State aid for rural schools 46

5. Safeguards required where the principle of state
aid is supplied 47

6. Summary and conclusion 48

=The Rural School and its Pupils=

1. The spirit of the pupils as a test of the school 50

2. The negative attitude of rural pupils toward their school 51

3. Causes of this defection to be sought in the school 51

4. The problem of poor rural school attendance 52

5. The consolidated school as a cure for indifferent
attitude and poor attendance 53

III. THE CURRICULUM OF THE RURAL SCHOOL

=The Scope of the Rural Sch