The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-09-19
T. A. Erickson of State Univer-
sity Visiting { EDUCATIONAL Mills
RURAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
Is the Theme OF This Educator; Is AC-
companied BY c. R. Shumway Of
MankatO Schools

T. a. Erickson, of the University
of Minnesota Extension department,
Is in Blue Earth county this week
conducting a series of lectures in
the rural school houses on the i'm
provements of rural schools. C. r.
Shumway, who has charge of the
agricultural department of the Man
kato schools, is with Mr.. Erickson
spoke at the school house at Brad
ley's Crossing Mr.. Erickson talked
about rural school improvement and
Mr.. Shumway on hog cholera and
seed corn. The meeting was largely
attended, and besides the gentle
men, quite number of ladies heard
the lectures All were very en-
thusiastic and were in the mood to
get the greatest benefits from what
the agricultural experts had to say.
Mr. Erickson spoke very highly of
the farmers clubs, giving several
illustrations, as a means of better
ing the conditions of the country
schools. The school houses become
meeting place for the entire COM
munty, and the get together idea
is given a big boost One fault with
the country schools was, Mr. Erick-
son said, that there was not the de-
gree of permanency about them that
should exist. The teachers in some
places are hired for three months
at a time, and they are given no
incentive other than to draw a sal
airy as long as possible, and do not
receive the proper encouragement to
advised that the equipment Of the
schools be improved, more space
given SO that experimental gardens
could be used, and the interior
equipments of the buildings inn
proved and enlarged The courses
of study Mr. Erickson thought,
should also be remodeled, and more
time given to domestic science,
agriculture and manual training, SO
as to equip, the boys and girls to
make successes in their own environ
ments If this were done, he said
there would not be the ambition to
get away from the farm that now
invades the Students mind. He
spoke of consolidated schools and
associated schools as a means of
lettering the school system also. A
consolidated school is one where
the children from several districts
are transported by the taxpayers to
one central building. Where more
of the students are attending, better
advantages may be given them. AS
ISOLATED schools are those which CO.
operate with the city school near
which they are located. This may
be done by paying a small amount
towards the support of the city
school, and receiving in return super,
intendence by the head of the city
school, courses of study mapped out
by the city school in domestic
science, manual training and agri,
culture, and the benefits to be de-
rived by association and with the
methods and equipment of the larger
school. In the associated schools the
students from the country may at
tend the city school without paying
tuition when they reach the high
school, and the country school re
ceives a part of the state aid which
is given yearly to the city school.
Mr.. Erickson also argued in favor
of boys and girls clubs in the
country schools, and in fact any as
ISOLATION among the residents of the
communities which would tend to
bring them together more of the
time, thus getting them better &C
quainted with each Their, and provid
ing means of social amusement. Mr.
Erickson said that he had seen some
country towns that were great
deal "deader," as far as amuSe
ments are concerned, than we'll or
ganized farming districts. BY getting
the farmers in touch with each other
in this way, they have meetings
parties and socials often and there
is never lack OIL some pldC6. W SO
1t is the lack of amusement, he
claimed, that urges boys and girls tc
seek city life, and desert the places
where they should stay, on the
farms.
Mr.. Shumway gave short tall
on seed corn picking. He said thai
this week is the week for the farm
ers in this county at least to select
their seed corn and get it stored am
dried ready for the spring testing
The president of the Bradley'S Cross
ing Farmers club and two Others
were selected as committee t.
promote a seed corn contest, the OBJ
ject being to secure seed ears that
would test the best.
On account of the hog cholers
invasion in this state and in neigh
boring states, Mr.. Shumway advised
the farmers to be very careful no
to spread the disease. He advised
farmers against stepping into another
farmers pig pen for fear that germs