University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-10-01
SOLVES A PROBLEM
IN RURAL SCHOOLS
High School In the Country
Has Proved a Success In
Missouri.
HOW IT WAS STARTED
Farmers Didn't Want to Send
Their Children To The
Cities So Combined.

Colonel ROosevelt's Country Life
Commission can with advantage get
in touch with three farmers in Henry
County, Missouri. In a little hamlet
of six houses, four miles from the
railroad in a small room over a coun-
try store, they have shown that far
mers can organize high school of
their own and can educate their chill
dren at home.
The high school gives four years O:
work taught to each pupil. When
the pupils enter the University they
will receive the same credit for their
work as if they had graduated from
the high schools OF Kansas City, or
St Louis. These farmers are educat
ing their children for what it would
cost to send one away to school. They
are relieved from the worry of every
father and mother who has children
away from home. and they have the
the girls to help the mother.
In August. 1908 three men, NJ. F.
Gray. John Swindle and William Word
met at a church picnic. In the course
of the conversation they talked about
their plans for sending their children
away to school that fall. One was
going to send his girls to the normal
school. another to a nearby town.
and the third to another town to live
with his grandparents.
Their New Idea.
why can't we start school of
our own" said Mr.. Gray. why nOt?'
said the others. They had no idea of
the cost. But the idea kept appeal
ing more strongly as they talked it
over. County Superintendent Tel
I.amkin was called into consultation.
The originality of the plan appealed
to him, and he advised them to begin
the school at once.
The school is in Norris, a cross /
roads hamlet with four houses, a /,
country store and blacksmith shop. |
The school room is over the store.
Eight dollars month is paid for rent.
To reach the school room door, you
must climb an ancient outside stair.
Inside the door the first distinctive
feature appears. Individual drinking
cups hang on the wall. While many
towns of ten thousand population still
cling to the common cup. each pupil
in this school has been provided with
a cup of his own. Il is made of tin,
to be sure, and costs five cents, but
il is Just as clean as a more expensive
one. The equipment OF the school
room is complete and cheaD. Good
desks were bought from ;
4 disbanding school, The book case
was built by the boys out of packing
boxes, and the books are protected |
rom dust by figured curtain. Slate
are built in along three {
ides of the room. Enough apparatus
or the study of high school agricul- S
ure. including the well-known corn f
rier of Missouri's former corn c
man," S. NJ. Jordan. is provided. and t
much of it was made by the boys. A f
mall coal heater stands in the CEN f
err An ordinary small table and
itchen chair su:fices for the teacher. t
One Teacher for MI. F
One teacher teaches the children. il
-ho however. do not all belong to C
ne three hackers. The teacher. r. H. il
is a well-trained COLLEGE a
ian and is an excellent instructor. o
e owns small farm few rods t.
way. Here he lives in a pretty farm #
,ttage and in the summer does the O
ork on the farm. During the school 81
onths he does the farm chores in the II
,rlv morning. goes to school and
aches, and at 4 o'clock when school a.
out, he returns with his books I'M g,
n his arm. In his blue jeans he te
eds the cattle. milks the cows and er
.z.,ooe Tho u.nrk In the evening nv