The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-01-06
THE RURAL SCHOOLS
Good Work For Women's Clubs
and Civic Leagues.
INTELLIGENT EFFORT NEEDED
Dilapidated and Ancient Structures
May Be Transformed Into Attractive
Buildings, Giving the Children Both
Mental and Moral Uplift.

0uioin9s, GiVln9 the ChtIoren Both
Mental and Moral UpIift.
While it is recognized generally that
consolidation or the combination of
several school districts into one is the
real solution of the rural school prob
lem, yet, according to Willet Hayes of
the United States department of agri-
culture, there are 100000 isolated
schools too remote from other schools
to be consolidated 1t is the improve
ment of these, then, that must be con-
Sidered first. To do efficient work
these must be given a new setting and
new aid from the parents and board.
Many of the federated women's clubs
and intelligent citizens throughout the
country are aiding in the upbuilding
of these schools where their needs are
made known.
The federated clubs of Tennessee
send out yearly travelling libraries for
these remote schools, and the cIubwO-
men of Georgia have begun to interest
themselves in the farmers institutes
i'll order to come into closer touch with
the farmers wives. In Eatonton, Ga.
a western capitalist has employed at
his own expense an experienced teach
er in cooking and household economics
to instruct the children of the city and
the surrounding country schools in
those subjects. The upbuildiug of a
school is work peculiarly fitted for
women. and no organization can do a
nobler or a more lasting work than to
undertake to repair and equip one of
these rural schools. The outlay will
be small-hardly $50-but the results
in good citizenship will be great
If we would make artists of our chill
dren we surround them with beautiful
pictures, if we would make musicians
we fill them with harmonious sounds,
and yet when we would make useful,
thrifty citizens and orderly housekeep-
ers we send our children for twO-thirds
of the day to house so dilapidated
and unkempt that we would hesitate to
use it for barn. Yet we realize that
a mans whole nature is determined
largely by his surroundings in child
hood. 1t is not precept, but example.
that teaches.
A small, modern, two room school
house with four windows to room
can be built for small sum. But
where even that amount is not avail
able the old building, dilapidated as it
is, can be vastly improved with little
expense and more labor. In the first
place, there should be thorough
cleaning and repairing Broken planbS,
worn steps, decayed shutters and bro
ken down seats should be replaced
with new ones and everything about
the building put in good order. a dou-
Bile coat of paint should be given both
exterior and interior of the building
gray for the outside and pale yellow,
nearly cream, for the inside, as yellow
reflects the light and makes dark
room lighter
If this repairing and painting are done
by the older schoolboys under the di-
rection of an intelligent citizen the eX-
pense will be trifie-in fact, nothing
more than the cost of lumber and
paint. At the same time the enthusi-
asm of the children in helping do the
work will act as a safeguard i'll pro
tecting the building from future mutt
lations. Sandpaper and varniSh the
desks and seats ana by all means put
blackboard all around the room, for
to expect a teacher to instruct chill
dren with Il ) by 6 foot blackboard is
equivalent to sending out a carpenter
to do work without tools.
When the building is clean and in
good repair beginning can be made
in equipping and beautifying it. A
map of the United States, one of
North and South America. one of Eu-
rope and Asia, are Indispensable. These
can be purchased from any school sup
ply company. In addition, put a little
money into a few pictures that will
help to transform the bare walls into
places of interest.
Plan next for window gardens, espe-
cially if any of the school windows
have southern or southeastern ex-
posure Nothing helps children more
than to watch and care for these dur
ing the winter.