New approches may be key for small schools

Because we are so closely connected to our schools, it is staggering to consider all that has taken place in Nebraska in the past seven decades.

The first two sentences in Michelle Seeker's consolidation story in Tuesday's Gazette brought the truth crashing home. "In 1930, Nebraska had more than 11,000 school districts. Today there are 245."

Incredible, isn't it? More than 10,000 school districts in this state no longer exist. One-room country schools are virtually obsolete, and small schools in remote rural areas are becoming fewer and farther between.

The anguish of losing our precious hometown schools was overwhelming when the doors swung shut for the final time.

Yet, we, as Nebraskans, have handled the school changes much better than you might think. In particular, the people of Southwest Nebraska have adapted exceedingly well, coming together to form a series of "valley" and "county" schools to take the place of the country and village districts that, over the years, lost too many students to continue.

It's easy to understand why the student numbers declined. In the seven decades since the start of the Dirty 30s, eight counties in Southwest Nebraska lost more than 28,000 people ... plunging from 61,913 population in 1930 to 33,795 in 2000. Percentage wise, the population decline during that period was among the most drastic in the nation.

As a result, this region has lost hundreds of schools. The one-room country districts were the first to go, followed by the smaller high schools. In a recent count, we calculated that more than 20 high schools have closed in Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas in the past 50 years.

That doesn't make it any easier for the districts of Hitchcock and Red Willow counties. Due to the loss of students and state pressure, school boards and citizens in those two counties must come to grips with further closings and consolidations.

It hurts. It hurts a lot. It's hard to give up generations of tradition. Yet, there can be advantages, too. Class offerings can be increased. More, modern, up-to-date equipment can be added.

As difficult as it might be to give up on long-held school loyalties, we encourage the people of Hitchcock and Red Willow counties to approach the consolidation questions with a cooperative attitude and an open mind.

Whenever practical, we need to preserve proven educational practices of the past. But we must also be prepared -- after thorough study and consideration of the alternatives -- to go forward with new, unified approaches.