The plan of allowing parents or guardians a certain
amount per day for providing conveyances for their own
children is in operation in the Cape Province, and to
a certain extent in many parts of the United States. 1
It is probably the only plan feasible in sparsely-settled
districts, and where roads are very poor.. The amount
allowed parents in the Cape Province is sixpence per
child per day. In South Dakota, Wisconsin, and a few
other States it varies from 10 cents per child per day to
25 cents, the amount depending upon the distance from
the home to the school. Allowance is made only for the
actual number of days attended. The principal advan-
tage of this plan is that children ride from their homes
to the school by the most direct route and, as a rule, in
less time than would be taken by a school wagon. One
of the principal disadvantages of this plan is the greater
expense, not to the school but to the school patrons. A
large amount must be invested in horses and vehicles, and
stabling and feed for the horses must be provided. If
the children themselves do the driving the horse is not
available for other work on school-days. Another dis-
advantage is that private conveyance does not assure the
regularity of attendance and the freedom from tardiness
resulting from the use of transportation wagons or of
railroads.'" In Minnesota state aid is withheld from
schools that use individual transportation,

About 6 miles is the usual limit of horse and wagon
transportation in the United States. In California,
where conditions of climate are most like those in South
Africa, the school automobiles are carrying children 20
miles. Motor transportation is quicker, equally reliable,
and usually more economical. The chief advantage lies
in the quickness of the service. Children are on the
road about half as long as when carried in wagons. It

1 Rapeer, L. W. The Consolidated Rural School, p. 215.
