The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-25
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
By Mabel Horner, County Supt.

BY Mabel HOrner, County Supt.
At the Educational Rally meeting
last June, the general theme for dis
cussion was "How May We Improve
Our Rural Schools?" The question
was discussed by school directors,
patrons, teachers and pupils.
Teachers and pupils especially en-
phasized the need Of more and better
school room apparatus, and we'll
they might No word short of i'm
poverish ed, can describe the condi-
ton of many of our rural schools.
The county superintendent has re-
Gently visited five of them. One OF
the five was absolutely without APP
paratus, other than desks and black
board; and the desks were rickety,
and in some instances without
shelves; there was neither diction-
airy, maps, library, globe, charts,
teachers chair nor window blinds.
The desks faced two west windows
where there was neither curtain nor
shade. There were crevices in and
about the door through which a
jack knife could be thrust; and a
hole in the wainscoating that would
accomm odate a sack of flour.
Not one of the five schools was
supplied with a library case. In one
school the few books (mOstly copies
of the texts used in the schools,)
called the library, were kept in a
small chiffonier, or chest of drawers.
In each Of the other two schools that
laid claim to a library, the books
were kept in or on the teachers desk.
Only one of the five schools had a
dictionary and it was in poor condi-
ton; owing partly to the fact that
there was no dictionary stand or
holder
On the whole the situation is dis
heartening to teachers, pupils, pat
rons and good citizens who appreci-
ate the necessity of maintaining good
schools. Yet in every situation
there is usually some redeeming fea-
ture
The meanest school house we
have visited had good slate black
boards.
Another where the plastering was
dropping from the ceiling, had die
Another where there was neither IL
had good new building, properly
lighted; and still another where the
blackboard was insufficient, the
books piled on the teachers desk,
and the only other apparatus, three
tattered maps that were purchased
probably twenty-five years ago, was
delightfully."- clean. The room had
been newly plastered; the teacher as
sisted by the pupils and few pat
rons had used barrel of water in
scrubbing and the floor did their eff
forts credit. In one corner OF the
room, there was a large stone wat
er jar with a faucet, by the side of
which was row of bright individual
drinking cups, each one on it's 'Own
particular" nail as the little Ruggles
would say.
In each of the schools to which we
have referred, if the building and
general equipment could be brought
to the standard of the best element
in the situation, the result would be
4 school home, instead of wayside
camp More money would be spent
for school purposes but the returns
would be greater than they are under
the present circumstances, and it
would mean economy in the end. It
is true that an energetic teacher may
sometimes teach good school in
spite of adverse environments, but
how much more she might accom-
plish under favorable conditions. ,
When the school "plant' is what it
should be, the public is justified in
demanding a thorough satisfactory
school: when it is not, teachers and
pupils are furnished, not necessarily
with a reason for poor work, but
with an excuse of which they too Of
ten avail themselves.
81 # :: =: ::
The Agricultural Extension De-
partment of the international Har-
vester Company. has issued circu-
lar on harvesting seed corn, that
would furnish a number of excellent
practical lessons in agriculture. The
circular will be sent to any teacher
or farmer who asks the county sup
erintendent for it.
Mr.. Foster, the assistant State In
spector of High Schools, visited Leon,
Garden Grove and Lamont last week.
~ :: :: -: ..... =. 04.."
The contract has been let for the
erection of a $4,000 school building
at Lamont.
4: ~:
The teachers who attended the
June Institute will be pleased to learn