Newark post. (Newark, Del.) 1910-1969, 1916-03-22
HOW ONE TOWN HAS
SOLVED THE RURAL
SCHOOL PROBLEM
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF 4 TOWN OF ONE THOU
SAND INHABITANTS

ment Station, and were kept on the
school grounds and cared for by
the class in agriculture. This
created a great deal of interest |.
among the pupils, who kept records ,
of feed and of egg production.
Good results were obtained, and
the immediate and direct benefit
t othe community has been more
good poultry in Eatonville this
year than in many years before.
The class in agriculture also
purchased six pigs, paying three
dollars each for them and buying
all feed at retail. These were also
cared for on the school farm, and
accurate records kept, showing
feeding, expenses and increase in
weight each week. Prizes of five,
three and two dollars were offered
by a citizen to the boys doing best
and having the best feeding and
expense records. The boys clear
ed from eighty cents to three dol
lars per pig, above all expenses.
When the pigs were six months
old, the class, aided by the princi-
pal and the mayor of the town, had
a butchering day. AS a result
these boys know just what it costs
to raise pound of pork, and as
result to the community, the par
cnts are gaining confidence in the
schools. One man who saw his
hoy's record decided that his son
knew more about raising pigs than
he did, and turned his pigs over
to the boy to fanage.
Besides these experiments in
managing live stock, there were
over two hundred experiments in
grain, grasses, and various crops
carried on by the class in agricul-
ture. The best breeds of live
stock, the best crops to suit local
conditions, will be determined by
these experiments and by visits to
successful farms nearby.
The other vocational branches
are equally up-to-date and sue
cessful. There is a modern, we'll
equipped manual training shop
and kitchen where common sense
domestic science is taught. There
is a model canning outfit at the
school, of a steaf pressure system
recommended by the United States
Department Of Agriculture. Here
is taught the method of saving
what are ordinarily waste pro-
ducts on the farm
January, 1915, special election
of the district was held to vote on
issuing bonds for forty-five thou
sand dollars for freproof high
school building. The bonds were
carried by a vote of five to one.
These bonds were purchased by
the State, with ten years time.
This is to be a tile structure,
faced with tapestry brick; 100 by
125 feet, two-story and basement.
It will have the very best of heat
ing, plumbing and equipment. In
its plan it illustrates again the CO.
operation of school and commu-
lity, not occasionally, but for all
time. There will be an assembly
hall, open to all kinds of commu-
nifty entertainments; moving pic
ture machine and curtain, where
educational films are to be exhibit
= ed. In one room a public library
will be housed, with reading-room
for books, magazines and papers.
In the basement there is to be a
game room and adjoining it, COM
munity bowling alley. With all
this equipment, there is little to be
! criticised in the Eatonville School
district. The schools cared for
about 275 children, with Ga of
these in the high school, last year,
and larger enrolment expected
for the present year.
. The clerk of the school board
in confronting on how all thsi has
: been accomplished says,'I would
: state again that the success or
failure of the school plant depends
: upon the cooperation of parents,
directors, and superintendants or
principals