The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-09


supposed to include their equipment
for the purposes of war;
ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY.
w. II. Smith. a.rural school super
visor with 5headQuarters at Jackson,
Miss. has prepared q bulletin on Or
ganizing a Country Community. which
II being circulated by the federal bu-
reau Of education. II contains many
valuable ideas along this line. ana u.
in part. az follows:
The country life problem II prt-
marily one of community organization.
The great rural need II IN organizA-
ton In each community that viii in-
clude the whole interest and enlist the
united energy of the people. Tho aims
OF such an organisation may be stated
az follows:
Firyt-To increase production, (11
through improved methods Of culttva-
tion: ca by diversification: (3) by
seed selection; (4) by conservation OF
soil and other natural resources.
Second-To increase profits. (1) by
cooperative marketing: (2) by CO.
operative manufacture: (3) by CO.
operative use of improved imple-
ments; a. by preventing waste: (s)
by providing cheap work capital
through rural associations.
Third-To increase the length Of
human life. Cd through nutritious
food; (2) by sanitary. comfortable and
attractive houses; (3l by education.
study. investigation. demonstrations:
(4) by community efforts for moral
and mental process: (5) by the use Of
modern conveniences in the home: CO.
through RELIGIOUS and social efforts.
In q number Of important directions
the school, II properly administered.
will prove the most effective agency
for community organisation. The
school should have. besides q room for
each teacher. . workshop. q kitchen,
and an auditorium Of sufficient stse to
accommodate comfortably all general
community meetings. and should be
designed for comfort. proper heating.
lighting. and ventilation. It should
be located ON i've to ten acres OF land
so arranged a. to allow ample play
grounds, shade trees. flowers. home
garden, and demonstration plat.
The community school unit should
be large enough to justify the en-
ployment Of not less than three teach
ers. This Is necessary to do the work
demanded Of an organized community.
The district should also be large
enough to form an efficient social and
economic group with common In
terests.
It has been the policy Of the pro-
motors of boys and girls clubs to
organize them through the schools.
but this feature Of community organ
ixation needs strengthening from the
school side. a Tha club should be m
integral part Of the school. Just - the
literary ana debating society arc .
part of our high schools and colleges.
There should also be farmers clubs
and women's clubs. The farmers
clubs should have N their purpose CO.
operative rural credit. and co-opera-
ton for cultural opportunities.
The women's clubs should concern
themselves with cooperative study Of
household management. cooking. sani-
tary. and hygienic problems: labor
saving devices; and enterprises Of So
cial, literary. musical. and artistic in
terest.
The first ana most important COM
mon interest Of the community IL
health. Through the assistance Of the
county health officer and the state
board OF health every community
ought to learn how to prevent the
spread Of infectious and contagious
diseases. Systematic instruction
should be given in the school in such
a practical, concrete way that the
laws Of health, as affecting the indi-
xyf6ra1 <hA hovne tha achool and the
community, should become common
knowledge. The school teacher should
either lead in these matters that per-
tain to the complete organization Of
the community or discover and stimu-
late the necessary leaders in the COM
munity.