Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1915-11-11
Rural School. Notes
BY CLYDE JOHNSON.

Lewis is teaching her second term at
Carter. She has Is pupils. The school
house is clean, yard and fence clear
of weeds.
Miss Abbie Sullivan is teaching
her seventh term at Prairie Lea
The success of her work is a strong
argument for long tenure. What bus
mess is there that uses short terms
one or two years-other than that
business which runs our rural
schools? What business could do so
and succeed? Miss Sullivan has more
than 80 pupils. They have a new
closet for the boys, new blinds for
both closets, and a fence to keep the
public from making a highway of the
school yard. These are excellent i'm
provements. Weeds havebeen cut and
other improvements planned--they
are working for approval
At Hedgedale, Miss leila Brown
is teaching her second term. She
has 13 pupils, the house is clean, the
stove black and she has a much need
ed new case of maps. The outbuild-
ings are kept sanitary by the use of
lime. weeds have been cut.
Miss Beulah Hagan has 16 pupils
at Oak Grove. The large yard is free
from weeds. The house is clean.
the stove is black and the walls are
ornamented with some good draw
ings, product and relief maps made
by the pupils.
Miss Ella Criswell is teaching her
fifth year at East Lick. She, too,
has school to be proud of. She has
2S pupils. She and the pupils have
beautifully decorated the room with
autumn leaves. The house and out
buildings are clean and the yard was
moved.
There are 20 pupils at Hickory
Grove this year. Miss Atha Gregg,
graduate of the Vandalia Teacher
Training School, is the teacher. The
house is clean--they use a sweeping
compound. The weeds were cut.
They have new heater and are car
ing for number of ported flowers.
In general the schools are in fine
shape. Teachers and pupils are bus
lily and earnestly working away, try
Ing to make the best use possible
Of their time and their opportuni-
ties. Nearly all the districts have
done the best they could by way of
improving conditions, and, in many
cases, have made wonderful trans
formations. Several have been de-
layed in their improvements by the
busy farm work that had to be done
first. These improvements show the
great interest the parents and pa
irons are taking in their childen, and
the effect on the children is quite
noticeable. They are taking more
interest in their work and in their
school homes, and the result will
many times repay the cost.
The latter part of the week was
spent in Kansas City attending the
State teachers',meeting. About 1000
were present. 1t was the greatest
meeting we have ever had in every
respect. The addresses were inspir-
ing, enthusing and helpful. All ex-
pressed themselves as we'll pleased
and well repaid for the trip. Au-
drain had more than 20 representa-
tives there. 1 saw the following
there. and feel sure there were sew
eral others: Supt, Tugel, Principal
Napier, Misses Miller, Berrey, and
Watson, of vandalia; Supt. Pryor,
Mrs. Houghland, Misses Bolts and
Beal, of Mexico, also DR.. ]. w. Mill
ion; Misses White and Underwood,
of Martinsburg; F. e. Hickerson, OF
Cornett; Miss Waters. of Crane,
Miss Kirkpatrick, of Farber; Miss
Criswell, fEast Lick; Miss Watson OF
Burnham; Miss Cook, of Gatewood,
Miss Day, Of Duly; Miss Ball. Of
Prairie Mound; Mrs. Kelley, OF
stauffer. Others will attend the dis
trfcf YnaatiuO ~ ICirIrovIIIa nov,