Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-10-07
Rural School Notes
BY CLYDE JOHNSON.
Co. School Superintendent.

This week / spent a short while in
each of % schools. In these short
visits 1 try to see if the teacher is
carrying out the course of study, note
the general condition of the school,
assist the teacher with her problems,
report the improvements, and check
up on the needs. am glad to state
that the needs are growing less, and |
that with hardly an exception each
district ismaking improvements. Thus
far l have noted but one school yard |
that needed moving. Last year there
were many. However, l am sorry
to state that the water and the out
buildings have been neglected. In
many places the water has a bad odor
or taste, and the vaults of the out
buildings have not been cleaned out
for years. This is filthy-positively
ngerous-already l have heard of
serious illness. When will our school
boards look closelyto the sanitary con-
ditions of their schools.
At Jesse, Miss Cashie Ryan, teach
er, l found nearly SO pupils enrolled.
The school house has been repaired
and the weeds have been cut Miss
Lola Spencer ha % at Hurdle in
newly papered and scrubbed house.
Each child brought a chicken to
school a few days ago. These have
been sold and the money will be in
vested in some new library books.
The playground has been moved.
Miss Mary Murphy has had but
three absentees with an enrolment of
"a at Payne. They have a clean
house and yards.
Miss Ermine Van Horn has 27 at
Cant in a newly plastered and paint
ed building. They expect to get a
certificate of approval this year.
At Hisey, Miss Dollie Mckenzie
teacher, there are % little folks to en-
joy the new heater that has been put
in for them. This is large increase
They also have new window shades
have cut the weeds, and are working
for approval.
Miss Pauline Powell seems to b.
getting things done at Burke. TIL
weeds and brush have been cut,
platform built before the door, an,
the house is clean and pleasant. Their
are 10 pupils. They will paint tn
, house and oil the floor soon.
w. L. Ballew at Flynt also has
+ very accommodating board. The
have recovered the house, cut tn
: weeds, and will paint inside, oil tn
n floor, get an organ and drinkin
i fountainMr. Ballew and his 15 pupil
will get the latter two. They'r
h mig even greater improvements al
other year. Their means will NJ
permit them now.
At High Hill they have finishd
l. fine fence around their large pla.
= grounds, have rebuilt their col
house, built stile blocks and cut the
J. weeds. Miss Mabel Kilgore has /
- pupils.
Miss Helen Howell has but IL p1
pills at Pleasant Green. All the lowe
= sashes are new, the weeds have bee
* cut and the stove has been blacke
r After three years or more of servi
their new desks have scarcely
h. scratch on them. They have ne
h chair and will get maps, globe al
:. some library books. They, too, ha'
a. had a chicken shower.
The smallest school in the county
r. Mrs. Nellie McKeehan's three-ol
J." boy and two girls, at Highland. He
the weeds had been cut and the hou
scrubbed clean.
Ed. c. offutt has % at Harriso
1t seems that the Harrison people a
wide-awake and are very proud
themselves, with Just cause. Tn
have cut the weeds, made a concre
cistern top and platform, BACKED t
stove, painted and varnished-ev
az the desks-and have beautii
Inn school house. They have litera
an society and base ball nine, both