The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-15
A REAL RURAL SCHOOL


The present day rural school = striv.
ing to At itself into the needs Of tn
community where It II found. TIT
school Of the open country which fai1a
to root itself to the soil - no longel
worth while. The school must be {
leader in everyday agricultural life o.
it viii be stamped ~ = failure. Thase
are reasonable conclusions Of II. W
Foght, Of the United States bureau OF
issued by the bureau. one Of the many
schools which IL doing q real work for
the country uplift. This school 10 in
western Charles Mix county. South
Dakota. 1t Is 20 miles from the near
est railroad station. and has been do
ing q remarkable work for the COM
munity for more than 20 years. It was
established at postofnce which
took it's name Academy from the
school itself. The school IL organised
on the academy or high school plan and
is strong enough to give the people OF
the western section Of the new state
all the education they really need for
successful farm life.
The founded Of the school. Rev. L. e.
Camneld. has been seer enough to UNI
derstand that the country districts
ought to have schools 30 complete in
themselves that farm children should
not be obliged to 60 to town to COM
plete their education. since this gem
orally means q weaving away from the
farm. The time when the school was
established was a period Of panic, OF
low prices. and mortgaged farms and
chattels. Still out Of their poverty and
need. the settlers gave. everyone. a lit
tie 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 a
parish also devoted q part
Of his time to teaching. The school re-
ceived assistance from the church. and
in its turn lent aid to the church. In
short while, az smaller district schools
ers for the academy, which insisted on
the universal subjects In
very thoroughgoing manner.
From the school went out IN snort
time teachers for the entire country
and practical men OF az
fairs in other lines. A school farm was
added at a very early date. Here reg
ular lessons In farm building construc-
ton, repairing, tho use OF macninefy'
tools, ETC., were given. Indeed. genera
farming was coordinated with GLASS;
room practice in relating the education
Of the school to the life of the COM
The work Of the school was
practical from the first. doing It's Ut
most to answer the needs OF. the COM
munity. Its enrolment grew from
lew students to Lag in a few years. AZ
Old buildings were outgrown. the stud
snts took an active part in building
the new.
A school home life was developed
md the teachers have done great
work an companions and leaders OF the
Students by giving them individual help
md announcement. To this may be
raced some to the really remarkable
men who have gone out from this COM
nunity. All the household cares and
luties Of the school are organized I'M
Ter the department Of household eco
,omics SO that the care Of kitchen. din |
ns room, laundry. and the living rooms |
8 left largely to the women students |
,nder the direction OF q competent
natron.
One of the things Of special appeal IL |
his: The pastor who came to the COM
nunity In the early days has remained
throughout the years. preaching and
eaching, builulng and farming. The
Christian spirit Of respect and rever-
nee for work, for knowledge. and for
luty is strong in the school and equally
trong in the community. Here can be
,een, then, a typical rural community !
satisfied country homes. and a coun-
ry school and a country church. each
loing its share in helping the people to
owe the soil and make the most OF
Inspired young men and women who
rave the real vision Of country life
leeds may find opportunities in every
,art of our country to do the work
hat these pioneers have done SO sue
.essfully in a poor western pioneer dis
riot.
IF GOLD WE'RE DROSS.
The interesting problem was raised
" one Of the French reviews recently.