University Missourian., 1914-12-15
DR.. ]. H. CourSault, of the
School of Education,
Cites Instances.
TELLS OF MEETING
Farmers Come IS Miles
Ventilation, Games,
Books, Important.

purpose in coming to school arr
points which Dr. ]. H. Coursault o
the University of Missouri say
must be emphasized in the improve
ment of rural schools.
Significant of the new interes
in the schools of the rural districts
fifty men, members of the county
school board, were present at 6
meeting which I recently attended
in the southern part of the state,
he said. Some of them drove
thirty-five miles. They came in
their overalls as if they had just
dropped their plows, hurrying from
their duties on the farm to these
greater duties of the community
The interest which these farmers OF
that primitive part of the country
displayed in the better education of
their children is indeed significant
of what the rural schools of our
state are to become.
Much improvement can be made
in rural schools at little cost. What
is needed is work along concerted
lines. Patrons must be shown where
their schools are lacking and how
easily certain improvements can be
made.
''The matter of cleaning ! have
found especially at fault. I sug-
gest the sprinkling of floors before
sweeping or the use of a sweeping
compound. School dust is full of
organic matter For this reason the
feather duster should be Stunned.
Its result is merely to stir up the
dust, allowing it to settle in some
other part of the room. The use of
a dusting cloth is preferable.
Uniacketed Stoves Found.
"In many communities, stoves in
the schools are unjacketed, which
means that the pupils sitting near
the stove are hot and those in the
far parts of the room are chilled.
To remedy this condition, a piece
of sheet iron should be placed
around the stove, thus providing a
greater radiating surface.
TOO often ventilation is entirely
overlooked. Provision for this is
also very simple matter, as all
that is necessary is to place a board
at the bottom of the window, set
ting it in several inches and rails
ing the window to its height
"Of course the easiest method of
fitting the pupil to the seat and the
seat to the pupil is by use of the
seat. The one drawback
is the expense, which is hard to
meet in the small school. By no
means should pupil be placed in
a seat that is so high that his feet
are permitted to dangle to the floor,
the desk being so close to his eyes
as to cause straining. Such condi-
tions as these are the cause of weak
eyes, headaches, dull brains and de-
formed backs. If a seat or desk is
too low, blocks may be used to raise
it. If too high, a better arrange
ment of the pupils should be made /
by the teacher.
zone sometimes hears the state |
ment that city boys and girls do
not know how to play because they /
have been deprived of Fairgrounds.
In rural communities it is too often
the case that the child lives so far /
from his companions that he too
knows but little of the science of !
play. Games as well as studies
train the mind. They also put the /
child's body in healthy condition
and make his mind alert. Every
school yard should have its basket
ball court and every school library
should have a number of books on 1
games. In the southern
part of the state l asked a big,
gaunt boy what games they played. !.
He hesitated moment, then not |.
to appear entirely ignor-
ant of the knowledge of games,
'Drop-the-H e-Handkerchief.'
He had probably heard that there
was such game but had never
played it or anything else.
Still Use "Old Oaken Bucket,
"While / have found the supply of
thinking water generally good, the
Individual drinking cup is but little
ised. Greater emphasis should be
aid on the spreading of disease
the public drinking cup. !
"The library in the country school
ihould furnish an ample supply of
,ood reading and reference books.
Although the box supper is a good 1
means Of increasing sociability in
CO immunity. I do not approve Of it
IS ii lone means Of furnishing a
library. This is the duty of the
chool board.
ITO obtain in the highest degree
he improvements that the rural