American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-22
i RURAL SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN IDAHO

uq1Qun is a general store and postoffice, section
0Qne, big canal, (Which will furnish enough wat
eq poon as the great, government dam at Ar
oV Rock is completely, and last but most con-
Dtcuous object for miles around, a red brick
Iuilding, INTELLECTUALLY stimulating. This build
ng has low caves, a broad many-windowed facade,
md = nigh stone foundation. There are white
lraperies and blossoms at its basement easements
There is II acres of land around it, which will one
lay b. = civic play ground and park.
Set IN the sage brush, apparently miles from
Anywhere this structure is Mora's idea of a coun-
ry school house. 1t also is Idaho's idea. Idaho
4 9 educating her young citizens along the broad
pct lines, for moral, mental and physical develop
nept The Idaho rural high school has arrived.
The Mora school is especially interesting be-
cause It is isolated. 1t is maintained in a district
Of struggling ranchers and represents their sac
rffices for modern ideals and because here, manual
arts a. q part of the rural school curriculum, has
passed the experimental stage.
Change in Conditions.
In 1910 Mora had this school house and IS chill
drep OF from just school age up. At that time
Frank r.. Colthorp was secured to teach the Mora
school, Mr.. Colthorp is one of Idaho's triple P
men A triple P degree calls for Principle, Per-
sona1ity and Punch.
Besides youth and enthusiasm, Mr.. Colthorp had
q wife, and not a house available in the district.
This is why certain big basement windows of the
Mora school house have white frillies, and do bios
som like a geranium; and why the Sunday school
organ has not been silent on week days.
1t may not be a depression here to suggest the
charming possibilities of housekeeping apartments
a. adiuncts to rural schools.
On Its 12-acre play ground the Mora school has
one OF the best quarter mile race tracks in the
state. Within this race track is a base ball dia-
mond, with plenty of room for the outfield. These
athletic adjunctions were accomplished by a stu
dent body association of willing Workers." or
gaDize in 1913 for school enterprises.
The w. w. NJ. S. has purchased all of its athletic
equipment since its organization. At the last
county meet the Mora team was the only one that
had uniforms all alike. and one for each mpmhpr
This has been accomplished by basket socials,
soapsuds, dye, cooperation, enterprise and girls.
The girls of Idaho "also run"
Mora Americanitus, stated as a working formula
reads thus: Do it if you can-If you can't-do it,"
Faced an Empty Treasury.
There are AZ pupils now enrolled in the Mora
school. When the w. w. M. S. faced the fact that
more athletic suits were needed they also faced
an empty treasury, and a number of faded cos
tunes.
A box social provided for extra suits, and since
the old suits could neither be discarded nor match
ed, the club changed it's colors from purple to
black and gold-and the girls dyed for the glory
Of the A. c. NJ. S. Incidentally they AIDED to their
practical accomplishments and school credits. The
home work credit system has been in force in this
school for two years. When nearly fifty pupils
were enrolled, at the beginning of the present year
(1914-15) they were divided into two rooms.
Mr.. Colthorp, principal, upper grade and high
school teacher. also directs the athletics and man.
ul training departments.
- MISS Margaret II. castle, domestic science teach
Z, carries a part of the upper grade, also inter
fhediate and lower grade work.
We are now getting to the meat in this rural
high school cocoanut-Do the manual arts pay in
a rural school?
This district had, in it's well lighted basement,
an unoccupied room 2Sx37 feet. This was divided
into two rooms, each 14x37 feet.
The manual training department has an equip
ment for IA boys. Drawing boards, drafting tees
and triangles were made by the class at a saving
OF about $1.00 per pupil.
OF the seven manual training benches five were
made in class at a saving of $35 to the district.
Twenty-four chairs for use in domestic science
department, and for drawing, were made in class
at a cost of 80 cents each-$7.20 save TO the dis
trict.
Turning Out Furniture.
This manual training department is now receiving
orders for furniture from patrons of the district.
A set of dining room chairs. at a cost of about 40
cents each chair, was turned out by The school
children, in a few weeks.
An order for a writing desk was filled by three
boys, in four lesson periods of two hours each.
Orders for six weeks ahead-and more coming
assure the boys of material for a variety of prac-
tical work, at no cost to the district.
Does the reader begin to perceive what a dis
trict cabinet shop may mean to a country neigh
borhood? Art craft furniture at a minimum price
is not the greatest gain. These boys are learning
a trade and are losing no time in the process.
From the sixth grade up, when their restless,
developing energies call for expression, they are
being directed into fascinating channels for self
= support. Under wholesome guardianship and con-
genial conditions they are learning to take their
Mans Place in the World" They are beginning
to pay Their way. The manual training boys are
learning to do something as well as it can be done!
They are crowding the slovenly good enough"
workman off the job!
What is true in this manual training department
is equally true on the girls side of that 37-foot
partition.
Domestic science is civic economy. A comuni-
ty marks progress by the heart beats of its wom-
en-. Ignorance debases art to ~drudgery.
A home maker may see seats in inverted kegs,
dining tables in empty packing cases, and books
in running brooks, but no make-shifty guess work
ever made a cook. Cooking is a found art! Death
and the waste of centuries, furnish the lore for its
formulas.
The Girls are Learning.
Domestic science teaches hyGeii 70, sanitation and
sanity. 1t calls for gray matter plus. What rule
and compass do for the boys in making clear
ence is accomplishing for the girls. While they
are learning 10 cook. they also learn ne great laW