"The most pleasing presentation of the Japanese Operetta, "Princess Chrysanthemum," was given at the high school auditorium last evening by pupils selected from the Martel, Caledonia, Pleasant, Agosta and Morral centralized schools. The operetta was presented under the direction of C. E. Green, Rural Supervisor of Music. An augmented orchestra accompanied the singers. The audience which greeted the performers was large and even standing room was not available. A thousand country people accompanied the boys and girls who took part in this entertainment to the performance in the city. Many city people also attended, notable among whom were members of the city board of education.

"The operetta was excellently staged and the voices blended splendidly in the chorus work."

Country boys and girls have talent if they are but given the opportunity to develop it. The boys and girls taking part in this performance had no desire to linger in the city but gladly returned to their respective communities which afforded them such splendid opportunities for development and entertainment. They returned to their country homes happy in the realization of their achievement and feeling that they were equal intellectually and socially to the boys and girls in the city and as a result were inspired with a self-confidence that leads to further accomplishments.

That the school orchestra can be developed in the rural school to advantage is proven by the fact that in the centralized schools in Marion County under music supervision orchestras ranging from ten to twentyfive pieces have been established. Interest in this work is evident for in the schools where they had orchestras last year there has been an increase in the number of children taking up this work. From an educational standpoint there is no study that demands more concentration and effort.

The boards of education of the centralized schools wherein this supervision exists are unusually progressive and wide awake, and have adopted a plan which is very commendable. When first organizing an orchestra in any school the instrumentation is very likely to be incomplete and is usually made up of students who want to study violin or piano. To overcome this difficulty these boards purchase the different instruments of the orchestral family and lend them under bond to pupils who show the proper interest and sufficient talent. This plan gives the pupil who is unusually gifted or very anxious to learn an instrument the opportunity of developing this talent where otherwise financial circumstances or utter indifference on the part of the parents might prevent such development. The parents are always willing to purchase an instrument after it is proven that the child can play. When such arrangements are made the school instrument is returned and giyen to another pupil, thus producing an endless chain. There is no part of the musical work in the school that is more appreciated and gives as much in return directly to the community as a school orchestra. It relieves the regular school activities of monotony and develops a school spirit and enthusiasm which

is most remarkable. In all schools having music supervision glee clubs have been organized and made a part of the regular school activities.

School Orchestra, Centralized School, Martel, Marion County.

Bond of

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That we

as principal and

as sureties, are held and firmly bound unto the Board of Education of Tully Township Rural School District, Marion County, Ohio, in the penal sum of dollars, the same being the value of one

a musical instrument the property of said Board of Education, to the payment of which, well and truly to be made, we jointly bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, firmly by these presents.

The provisions of this indenture are such, that so long as said instrument remains in the possession of said borrower, its provisions shall remain and be in full force.

It is also provided that when said instrument is returned to said Board of Education, and in a condition wholly satisfactory to said Board of Education, the provisions of this indenture shall then be void and of no effect.

Approval of Bond:

President of Board.

Clerk of Board.

Principal.

Surety.

TRANSPORTATION.

Transportation is one of the most important factors in the consolidation of schools and if this fails the whole venture is doomed. It is not a problem difficult of solution but it requires care in its plan and operation. The board of education should route the territory without prejudice or favor and should be governed at all times by their rights under the law rather than by its mandates. It is always best to give the people the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes children are conveyed to school in vehicles that afford neither convenience nor comfort, over routes where the stops are not properly scheduled, and as a result there. is dissatisfaction; then transportation is declared a failure. If routes are established and conveyances scheduled with wisdom, and if the proper kind of conveyance is furnished and driven by properly qualified persons under bond to the board of education for the faithful performance of their duties, transportation will not only be a success but will be a boon to the children. Pupils are required by law to walk to school provided they reside not farther than two miles from the school to which they are assigned. The time consumed in making the trip on the longest route of transportation should not exceed the time required by pupils who walk the two miles under the old system. In other words, the longest walking distance should be compared with the longest riding distance in order that a correct conclusion may be reached as to the proper length of transportation routes. Even on that basis of comparison the evidence is in favor of transportation because of its comfort and protection and the moral influence of the supervision of the driver over the pupils enroute to and from the school. The transportation alone of children in consolidated districts is worth much more than the extra cost of the maintenance of the centralized or consolidated school over the old system. The average cost per trip the state over is eight cents a pupil for each trip or sixteen cents per day. Where transportation is successfully operated its worth is proven by the increased attendance and no parent desires to revert to the old system with its inconveniences and discomforts.

A determining factor in the facility of transportation is the character of the roads. However, hard roads are not a necessary condition to the consolidation of schools because the first consolidated schools of Ohio were scattered over the Western Reserve where many of the districts that were consolidated did not have a mile of hard road. Transportation begets good roads and it is worth many times its cost if it is the means of bringing to a community that which is so necessary to its convenience and prosperity.