The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-11

doing a remarkable work for the
community for more than twenty
years. 1t was established as post
Office which took it's name "Acade-
my" from the school itself. The
school is organized 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 founder of the school, Rev.
L. E. Garfield, has been seer enough
to understand that the country dis
tricts ought to have schools so COM
plete in themselves that farm child
rem should not be obliged to go to
town to complete their education,
since this generally means a Wean-
ing away from the farm.
The time when the school was es-
tabhshed was period of panic, of
low prices, and mortgaged farms and
chattels. Stnl out of their poverty
and need, the settlers gave, every
one, a little for their school. The
local church helped to furnish teach
ers-the pastor and the pastors wife
who had been college teachers TAX
ing part in the work from the first.
The pastor from a neighboring par
ish also devoted part OF his time
to teaching. The school received as
sistance from the church, and in it's
turn lent aid to the church. In a
short while, as smaller district
schools were esta blished, these came
to be feeders for the Academy, which
insisted on teaching the universal
subjects in very thoroughgoing
manner.
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 added at a very
early date. Here regular lessons in
farm building construction, repair
ing, the use of machinery, tools, etc.,
were given. Indeed, general farm
ing was co-ordinated with class room
practice in relating the education of
the school to the life of the commun-
ity. The work of the school was
practical from the first, doing it's ut
most to answer the needs of the
community. Its enrolment grew
years. AS old buildings were out
SIONu, llc StuucuIS lOOh al dSIlNC
part in building the new.
A school home life was developed
and the teachers have done a great
work as companions and leaders of
the students by giving them individ-
ual help and encouragement. To
this may be traced some of the really
remarkable men who have gone out
from this community. All the house
hold cares and duties of the school
are organized under the department
of household economics so that the
care of kitchen, dining room, laun-
dry, and living rooms is left largely
to the women students under the di-
rection of competent matron.
one of the things of special appeal
is this: The pastor who came to the
community in the early days has re-
manned throughout the years, preach
ing and teaching, building and farm
ing. The Christian spirit of respect
and reverence for work, for knowl-
edge, and for duty is strong in the
school and equally strong in the
mmunity-satisfied country homes
and a country school and a country
church, each doing it's share in help
ing 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 successfully in a poor western
pioneer district.