The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-08-13
AMOSG COUNTRY Schools.


Dear Sir, l was pleased with
your recent editorial on the school
problem and feel that your sug-
gestions regarding consolidation
are practical. Prom the expe-
renee of a year spent among the
good people of this County. can
testify to the individual interest
IN education. and if the hard fact
remains that Mathews Is one of
the most backward counties of the
State educationally, all that is
needed is an intelligent organiza-
ton OF the deep interest which
really exists in the hearts of the
fathers and mothers Of the Couu-
ty and they will demand longer
school terms, better paid teachers
and either more schools. or All
organized means of conveying the
children to centralized schools,
Nor will they object to an
increase of taxation that these
results may be accomplished.
May l call the attention of
school officers, parents, and
teachers, to a somewhat remarka-
BILE book recently published, "A
mong Country Schools" written
by Supt. Kern, Of Winnebago
County, Illinois. DIR. Payne Of the
University of Virginia in intro
duciug the author to the Summer
School, recommended his book to
his auditors in the highest terms.
Supt. Kern is a man of stiking
personality. tall of figure. graceful
IN bearing, with a voice of pecu-
liar charm. Illustrating his story
with beautiful photographs
thrown on canvas, he told us what
had been accomplished in one
county by earnest persistent eff
fort, and cooperation. About ten
years ago he was appointed SUI
peFlntendent of Schools in Win
nebago County. He was a man
with an idea. He believed in
country people. in country chill
dren, and in country schools.
After a while the idea took pos
session of him and he and his idea
have charged Winnebago county
His book was written after sew
en- years OF hard persevering work
as Superintendent. Keeping
himself in the background he tells
what has been done. And he also
tells what others may do. and
how they may do it. The book
contains 800 pages. Its sixteen
chapters are well written and
profuselY illustrated. 1t can be
obtained from the publishers,
CHM & Co., New York, for $40
There are single chapters worth
more than the price of the book
to many school officers and coun-
try schools
After speaking Of the changed
conditions in country life the
author shows that schools have
not Kept pace with the general
progress, and he pleads earnestly
for the elevation OF the rural
schools, that they in tam may
spiritnalize country life. He be-
heVes it IS the Heavep-horn right
of every American country chill
to have as good educational ad-
-vantages as. City children and he
realizes that this can be secured
him only by the country people
GAPeldllS more money and eX-
pending it in a better way.
In the chapter on Outdoor
Art" he calls upon his readers to
beautify the school grounds with
trees, vines and flowers. In
School Gardens" lie shows how
the earnest teacher can make a
beginning with only box of earth
to test seeds and that with a plot
Iof ground four feet by six feet he
can train the children to expert
tment and observe and teach the
principles of agriculture. Indoor
tArt" makes plain that the hum
blest schOol-room can be made
attractive with little trouble and
small expense. School Libra.