Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-12-12
RURAL SCHOOL AID
TO FARM HOMES
MISS RANKIN WRITES ABOUT
WORK IN COUNTY DISTRICTS
DURING YEAR

(By Elizabeth Rankin, Asst County
Supt. of Schools.)
Marshall County, in her exceptional
progress in other lines, has not been
| delinquent in regard to her schools,
as will appear in survey of the past
few years.
! Until recently the eastern districts
have been handicapped for funds,
much of the land being homesteaded.
Schools We're built of logs and put to-
gether by the farmers themselves,
that as little expense be incurred as
possible and in many instances the
furnishings We're home made.
! The log school houses, however,
have been gradually giving place to
buildings up-to-date in every respect
and because of this struggle for exis-
tence the communities have been
drawn into a real and vital interest in
school matters.
In 1909 there was in the county for
ty-five school buildings, valued at
F, $1,000 and over, the total valuation of
all schools being $217,095. Last
year there were fnty-forH buildings
SO valued and the total valuation was
s243,S96.
-Four years ago IL schools loaned
text books free OF charge to pupils,
this number has gradually increased
until now practically al the district
have free text books.
Modern conveniences have been m
PRODUCED into nearly all schools, spe-.
cial attention being given to heating
and venti]ation-a thing unheard Of
in the old days of the box-steve in the
center Of the room which tended to
roast those near and chill the hardly
less unfortunate at some distance.
This is step worthy of note when
| il is realized that in order to get the
best possible results from the school
the cni]ds physical as we'll as his,
/. One of the most notable innovations.
OF this year is the discar i,,g- OF the
linsanitary, open drintdn:. pail and
dipper for. the covered, earthen drink.
ing-jar with spring faucet and indy i'd
ual cups or the bubbling fountains,
which have proven decided success
in the school in which they have been
placed.
There is an earnest moYsipent felt
thruout the county to make the
schools more practical to the rural
communities in which they are. Bah
cock testers have been introduced and
| the boys in practical demonstration
| are endeavorins to improve the dairy
herds. ...s.-.~. -s,.-1.
Under the efficient leadership OF
| Mr.. Freed, agriculture teacher in the
! Warren high school, farmers clubs
are being organized in associated dis
tricts and should these prove success
full there is no doubt that such clubs
Will be organized in other parts Of the
county, thus helping to solve the So
cial problem of country life.
| Industrial contests, unknown in this
section until introduced by former
county superintendent Mithun some
years ago. have more than fulfilled
the highest expectations.
From exhibits Of gram brought in
match boyes and carrots and turnips.
F! chosen, it would seem, from their I'M.
usual size and distortions, the chill
.lren have learned to select their ex.
hibits wisely. Now the exhibits pre-
sent an appearance they may well be-
proud of.
! Another feature which has aroused
interest is the presenting, by the
county, Of diplomas to those who can
pass a: satisfactory examination in
eight grade subjects. The boys and
girls are feeling that they are accom-
pishing something and not attending
school merely because the. law stipu-
lates that they must. Five years ago
eighteen schools in MARSHALL county
received the beAanfz 0f special state
aid. Last year seventy-txe applied
for this aid and many More sahools
are putting in the equipment neces-
eary and will qualify this year.
Of the schools receiving this special
state aid five are semi graded, receiv-
ing $500 each; SO are of Class A and
have at least 8 months school and en-
gage a first grade teacher; 10 are OF
Glass B, engaging second grade teach
ers and have eight months of school
and 1S Of Class G, with seven months
school and either first or second
grade teachers