The classrooms are all large and well lighted. There are cement walks, oiled floors, and adjustable desks of a modern and approved type. There are sanitary drinkingfountains on both floors. The water is piped from the Fort Collins city system and is pure, soft, mountain water. The walls are finished in hard plaster and in each room is hung at least one good picture, several of which are copies of well-known masterpieces of art. The woodwork is in natural finish; the windows are fitted with shades, and in general the interior has the appearance of simplicity, appropriateness, and comfort. The play and athletic grounds are marvels of good sense in selection. The plant, exclusive of the leased orchard, covers four and one-half acres, including a half-acre orchard and garden used by the superintendent and the janitor. The grounds are made not alone beautiful but cool and inviting by the shade of majestic trees, and the play apparatus, all of which is home-made, is so placed as to utilize this advantage. There are two swings, two giant strides, and eight teeters, all placed about the building close to the trees and out of range of the ball-fields. The accompanying pictures give some idea of the distribution. On the athletic field are two basket-ball fields, football gridiron, and baseball diamond. The principal says they are all in constant use, including the apparatus for play. Transportation.-Transportation being the rock on which so many thriving consolidation schemes have split, it is a real pleasure to find that there are no complaints and no dissatisfied murmurs in regard to this phase of the school management. The district owns seven substantial covered wagons, each of which cost approximately $200. The teams are owned by the drivers and are valued at about $400 each. The district, as related above, covers twenty-five square miles, and the wagons transport the children distances varying from three to five miles. The number of children carried in each wagon varies from seventeen to twenty-four or more, the aim being to keep the number below twenty-four if possible. The total number transported averages 160 pupils daily. The school board awards a contract to the lowest bidder, providing he is a satisfactory person, but reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The qualifications required are very exacting, only mature, responsible men being eligible, and a $500 bond required. By the terms of the contract the driver is to take entire charge of the children on his route, to be accountable for their welfare, to see that they conduct themselves in a proper manner, and to report all misconduct on the part of the children to the principal. The contract also stipulates that no profane language shall be used either by driver or the children and that the driver maintain a time schedule and provide proper housing and care for the wagon. In addition to these stipulated regulations the rules of the school before referred to provide that there shall be two timetables furnished to patrons on a "route-sheet," one for good roads and one for bad roads; that the driver must not vary from the time-table once established and must not pass the point of stopping if the pupils are not ready until five minutes after the time scheduled, unless he be notified that the pupils will not attend school that day. Pupils are required to remain seated while the wagon is in motion; to be at the proper place on time; to refrain from boisterous or profane language. The use of tobacco by pupils or driver is forbidden while on the wagons. Even parents may not censure drivers on penalty of having their children excluded from the privilege of the wagons. necessary complaints must be made to the superintendent. All The routes are so planned that no child rides in a roundabout way. When he enters the wagon he is headed directly for the schoolhouse. In the morning the drivers go to the end of the route and pick up children on the return. After school the children are taken directly home. The salaries of drivers and distances travelled by each are as follows: During the last two years under the old system, with four districts and six schools, the territory now comprised in the consolidated district had a school census, enrolment, and attendance as follows: For the year 1916, in the consolidated school, corresponding figures are as follows: Here we see a high-school enrolment raised from nothing to forty-five pupils, and an attendance increased 30 per cent. For the month of December, 1916, the principal reports no tardiness in the elementary school and but six cases in the high school. There are relatively few foreigners in the district and Americans predominate in the school enrol |