The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-12-04
EDUCATIONAL.
(BY G. w. MEISNEST.)
THE COUNTRY SCHOOL AS
A COMMUNITY BUILDER.

From Bureau Of Education.)
The present-day rural school is striv-
ing to fit itself into the needs of the
community where IL is found. The
school of the open country which fails
to root itself to the soil is no longer
worth while. The school must be a
leader in everyday agricultural life
or it will be stamped failure. One
OF the many schools which is doing a
real work for country uplift is found in
western Charles Mix County, South
Dakota. The school is twenty miles
from the nearest railroad station, and
has been doing remarkable work
for the community for more than twen-
ty years. Is was established as post
office which took its name Academy"
from the school itself. The school is
organized on the academy or high
school, plan and is strong enough to
give ihe people of the western section
of the new State all the education they
really need for successful farm life.
The founder of the school, Rev. l.. f.
Camfield, has been seer enough to un-
derstand that the country districts
ought to have schools SO complete in
themselves that farm children should
not be obliged to go to town to complete
their education, since this generally
means weaving away from the farm
The time when the school was esta-
blished was a period of panic, of low
prices, and mortgaged farms and chat
tells. Still out of their poverty and
need, the settlers gave, everyone a
little for the school. The local church
helped to furnish teachers-the pastor
and the pastors wife who had been
college teachers taking part in the
work from the first. The pastor from
neighboring parish also devoted a
part of his time to teaching. The
school received assistance from the
church, and in its turn lent aid to the
church. In short while, as smaller
district schools were established, these
came to be feeders for the Academy,
which insisted on teaching the univer-
sal subjects in very thoroughgoing
m amer.
From the school went out in short
time teachers for the entire country
community and practical men of affairs
in other lines. A school farm was add
ed at a very early date. Here regular
lessons in farm building construction,
repairing, the use of machinery, tools,
etc. were given. Indeed, general
farming was coordinated with class
room practice in relating the education
of the school to the life Of the commu-
nity The work of the school was prac-
tical from the first, doing its utmost to
answer the needs of the community
Its enrolment grew from few STU
dents to l45 in few wears. AS old
buildings were ouugrown, the students
took an active part in building the
new.
A school home life was developed
and the teachers have done great
work as companions and leaders of the
students by giving them individual
help and encouragement. TO this may
pc traced some to the really remarka
BILE men who have gone out from this
community. All the household cares
and duties of the school are organized
under the department Of household
economics so that the care OF kitchen,
dining room, laundry, and the living
rooms is left largely to the women
students under the direction Of a com
petent matron.
One of the things OF special appeal
is this; The pastor who came to the
community in the early days has re-
mained throughout the years, preach
ing and teaching, building and farm
ing. The Christian spirit OF respect
and reverence for work, for kno Wedge,
and for duty is strong in the school
and equally strong in the community.
Here can be seen, then, a typical rural
community satisfied country homes,
and country school and a country
church, each doing its share in helping
the people to love the soil and make
the most of themselves.
Inspired young men and women who
have the real vision of country life
needs may find opportunities in every
part OF our country TO do the work that
these pioneers have done so success
fully in poor western pioneer dis
trict.
TEACHERS MEETINGS.
Maribel, December 10, 1913