In the United States millions of children attend school daily, but not all schools are the same. School consolidation has been in the spotlight for many years. By definition, consolidation takes one or more schools, and combines them to create one bigger school. According to James Guthrie by 1930 schools were at an all-time high in expansion which started the consolidation movement. The consolidation movement helped to lower the number of schools, but is believed to have caused more harm than any good. School consolidation can cause a difference in the academic setting, an increase in traveling distance to and from school, and can cause an impact on the closed schools communities.
District leaders and school officials believe that combining …show more content…
Students who are used to smaller schools can have difficulties when faced with a larger environment; furthermore, this can affect the student’s academic achievements. In a recent study performed by Ed Young found that “large districts produce certain diseconomies including ‘impersonal atmosphere; lower participation rates in school events; less positive attitudes toward school; less attention to individual students; less parental involvement;…and higher dropout rates’” (qtd.in Betty and Becky). The combining of school created an atmosphere where the student felt like there was not a connection with the teachers; therefore, made their attitudes toward school negative. Since loss of attention and negative attitudes toward school developed, this caused a higher dropout rate. A higher dropout rate means fewer students, which cause the school to lose …show more content…
In smaller towns the school is part of the community’s environment. Friday night football games light up the skies and the sound from the announcement box can be heard for miles. When a school is closed it takes away a vital part of the town. The availability for parents to attend school functions may become diminished, and even a parent’s sense of security can be lost. With a school being removed from the community and placed somewhere else the parent may not feel the connection they once did.
While consolidation seems like a good idea at first glance, it can lead to negative results. A better education cannot be achieved by squeezing resources to their limits. In the short run money may be saved, but in the long run there are many hidden expenses. With consolidation there is an increased demand on all resources and services provided. As a result there is more maintenance required of facilities and transportation vehicles. This increases cost and does not provide and benefits.
Consolidation can influence many different changes, including a change in the academic setting for students, longer distances to travel to and from school, and impacting the communities
District leaders and school officials believe that combining …show more content…
Students who are used to smaller schools can have difficulties when faced with a larger environment; furthermore, this can affect the student’s academic achievements. In a recent study performed by Ed Young found that “large districts produce certain diseconomies including ‘impersonal atmosphere; lower participation rates in school events; less positive attitudes toward school; less attention to individual students; less parental involvement;…and higher dropout rates’” (qtd.in Betty and Becky). The combining of school created an atmosphere where the student felt like there was not a connection with the teachers; therefore, made their attitudes toward school negative. Since loss of attention and negative attitudes toward school developed, this caused a higher dropout rate. A higher dropout rate means fewer students, which cause the school to lose …show more content…
In smaller towns the school is part of the community’s environment. Friday night football games light up the skies and the sound from the announcement box can be heard for miles. When a school is closed it takes away a vital part of the town. The availability for parents to attend school functions may become diminished, and even a parent’s sense of security can be lost. With a school being removed from the community and placed somewhere else the parent may not feel the connection they once did.
While consolidation seems like a good idea at first glance, it can lead to negative results. A better education cannot be achieved by squeezing resources to their limits. In the short run money may be saved, but in the long run there are many hidden expenses. With consolidation there is an increased demand on all resources and services provided. As a result there is more maintenance required of facilities and transportation vehicles. This increases cost and does not provide and benefits.
Consolidation can influence many different changes, including a change in the academic setting for students, longer distances to travel to and from school, and impacting the communities