Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-08
DECIDED HIT ~ sURERiNrENp.
ENpr KERN. OF ILLINOIS, At
CLEAR LAKE.
ILLUSTRATED LECTURE ON
RURAL SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
Enthusiastic Advocate Of Making coun.
try Life Moro Attractive 40 We'll 40
Instructive Contrasts Bleak and
Barron School Buildings and Grounds
With Ideal Kind.
Special to Time.-Republican.

Special to TimeS.Republican.
Clear Lake, Feb. S.-One of the big
feasts at the farmers institute which
opened here yesterday was the address
last evening Of Superintendent o. J.
Kern. of Rockford. Ill. He made a de-
cided hit at the recent state teachers
convention and President Mahannah, Of
the state association. picked upon Mr..
Kern as the available man at this time
to present a subject the state needs to
hear
Superintendent Kern's address was IL
Illustrated with 40 lantern slides, many
Of them beautifully colored. to show
things dore to improve the country
schools. He believed that IL country
life is to be made more attractive for
the boys and girls the start must be
in the country school, where IS per cent
Of the country children get their only
education, so far as books are con.
cerned.
For Better Environment.
His first point was a plea for better
environmental influences surrounding
the child while in the school. He
showed slides Illustrating the improve
ment OF school houses and grounds.
Pictures were thrown on the screen
contrasting bleak, barren school
grounds with those planting shrubs.
trees and flowers, and the educational
significance Of richer environmental
surroundings was emphasized.
Luther Burbank in, his new book
1.-THE Training OF the Human Plant"
discusses the effect Of environment in
training Of plants and children. The
pictures Of Mr.. Kern showed far bet
ter than words can express environ
1t is that the Child absorbs environ
ment."
interior Decoration.
Besides the outdoor art movement for
more attractive buildings and grounds,
Mr. Kern showed views giving indoor
Improvements In tho way Of school
room decoration and sanitation. pic
lures on well colored walls. harmony
in color Of furnishing, etc.
In ten years Mr.. Kern has built up q
system Of travelling libraries In his
country schools. He now has H. boxes
Of books. representing 100 volumes. at
a cost Of $500. These are putting the
AS a result the next generation OF
thinkers.
An Agricultural Adjunct
Superintendent Kern showed some
very significant pictures Of work In
agriculture in the way Of soil Improve
ment. corn breeding. etc. He made q
plea in pictures for q closer adaptation
Of the work Of the school TO the inter.
ests OF the farm. Since 1902 Mr.. Kern
has had a farmer boys experiment
club Of 1000 members and with the
cooperation Of the farmers institute
of his county. has carried on annual
corn growing contests. corn Judging
contests, trips to the Illinois College Of
etc.
Country High Schools.
Mr.. Kern's last series Of pictures
shows what Is being done in the mat
ter Of consolidation and the establish
ment OF the country high school. The
latest example In his county is the Har-
Ian consolidated school, where the
farmers voted 50 for and 10 against, to
bond the district for $1,000 to erect
fne building on three acres Of ground.
It IL not necessary to dig up the
farm and home by the roots and take
It to the city In order that country
can have better educational
For the sake Of soil fer
fifty: for the sake OF better agricul-
ture; for the sake Of q better country
life: for the sake of the cities them
selves. II Is important that more money
be expended by farmers on better coun-
try schools. out In the open country.
concludes Mr.. Kern.