The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-09-12
BETTER TEAM WORK NEEDED
FOR RURAL SCHOOLS

A letter from the state departments
of education says:
This Office has discovered that the
forces working for the betterment Of
rural school conditions in Florida
are not in sufficiently close touch
with each other to promote efficient
team work In view OF this fact we
have decided TO establish a system of
communication that will carry to all
agents, active and affiliated, a month
ly message of what some one or more
OF their co-workers are doing or
planning to do to advance the cause
of public education. 1t is our pur-
! pose to form a sort OF clearing house
thru which will pass the worth while
ideas and experiences that have
worked their way into the education
al and agricultural activities of
/ Florida.
We shall be greatly Obliged If you
will send us notes of progress. or
give us salient features of any plan
or scheme you have IN mind for the
Improvement of the system.
There is another reason. equally
as cogent as the promotion of the
stronger team work, that justifies US
in the establishment of a bureau Of
publicity. The taxpayers are the
stockholders in the great business of
public education and we. the teach
ers and school officers, are the agents
appointed to administer the affairs of
the business. The taxpayers have a
right 20 demand, and 1t is our duty
20 give. a statement of management,
activities and results OF the business.
Real school progress can never be
attained until we secure the uniform
cooperation of the people. Make
the schools do things for the people,
show the cost necessary to make this
vital school and the people will want
to do things for the school without
Being asked Taxasion without re-
suits is burdensome.
It is our privilege this month to
give You a brief statement of the
good work in volusia county. Supt.
Shepard believes stronger rural
schools are absolutely fundamental
to the making OF an efficient public
school system, and is showing his
faith by works. His county board,
composed of men with big minds,
broad vision and large and successful
experience in business affairs, co-ope-
rate with him fully in carrying out
his progressive policies.
I'VE have set aside SIS. 900 to.
spend on rural school this year; =
Supt Shepard writes. The county
beard has made definite arrange
. ments to place graded libraries IN
every school in the county before the
! opening of the next term. Outlines
identifying the school house and
grounds Will be placed nj the hands
, OF the teachers and pupils. The num-
Der of teachers has been increased,
salaries advanced, and by fan all
! the schools will be supplied with adj
t equate furniture, fixtures. ETC.
The board is now erecting modern
three-room school building at Seville
and Pterson. New buildings will be
, erected at Lake Winona and Glen
, wool. Altogether we are spending
, SIS. 900 to $4,000 in buildings.
to be ready for school in September.
Lake Helen special district has re-
: Gently bonded for SIS, 900 for school
purposes. and Supt. Shepard is con-
,, fident New Smyrna will pass an issue
this year.
The superintendent is working
out county score card which will
/ include many points not embraced in
] the state score. He is grading his
schools IN classes according to the
: lposnts considered on his county
l score card Those school attaining
J a certain degree of efficiency in
class work, monthly or quarterly
tests. passed upon by him. viii likely
: be exempt from the uniform county
= examination. Schools exempt from
, county examination VIII conduct
e their own examinations at the end Of
the year and sen1 the questions. ans
wers AMI grades 10 his Office for in
!. spection Mr.. Shepard says he hopes
!. IN this way TO hold up the standard
I of the schools ami at the same time
use the method as a means to build
e up the school and increase the efforts
; OF the teachers and pupils"
D We would advise school officers to
: write supt Shepard for detailed
I statement of his plan to standardize
, and classify rural schools.
Our August letter viii show the
2 progress OF school work in Polk and