The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-19
SCHOOL, HOME, COMMUNITY.

IinVi1le is q rural community far
from the railroad in a hilly region in
northern Louisiana. Five years ago,
states a bulletin issued by the federal
bureau of education, it had all the
earmarks of a backwoods community
with no ideals for growth. Some of
the marks were its box-car shack used
for school, its farm run to weeds, and
it's traditional school open from four
to six months in the year. The be-
ginning was made by the citizens
thenselves-not all of them to be sure,
only the more energetic. These few
succeeded in building a two-room
school which was a marked improve
ment over the previous schoolhouse.
At the present time. the two-room
building has been enlarged into a fine,
six-room structure set in large
grounds, sodded with grass, and dotted
with shade trees. 1t has other i'm
provements that signify a growing
community with definite standards of
it's own. There is a shoproom for the
boys. well equipped home economies
department for the girls. sanitary
drinking fountain, and the like. Lo-
cal social life, formerly of no COM
the children, the young men and
young women, and the older people
of the community.
The teachers of the school are cor
respondingly progressive. The course
of study utilized fits the needs of the
community. It's health teaching in
cludes problems of sanitation and per-
sonaI hygiene of definite Importance
to the children and adults. The read
ing course selects the subject-1natter
from life and the nature-environment
The most forceful factcr in the new
community life began with the estab-
lishment of a school farm and plant
nursery of about two acres as part of
the public school This farm was
cleared of trees and brush; stumps
were removed. and posts cut and
hauled. The lumber for fencing was
cut on the land and sawed at a near
by sawmill on shares. All this work,
including the building of the fence,
was done by boys with the assistance
of the principal. The only outlay of
cash for this construction was $3.50
for nails and barbed wire.
The land was divided into plots and
cultivated by the boys and girls of the
agricultural classes. Fruit trees of
every kind suitable for this climate
were planted during late winter and
early spring. Hickory, haws, and
many other trees were planted and
later grated and budded. A spray
was added to the equipment, and les
sons were given in spraying fruit trees,
vegetables. etc. The principal and the
boys made excursions through the
neighborhood spraying orchards, po-
tato patches, and gardens to destroy
injurious insects and other pests.
These excursions afford the school OPP
portunity to reach the patrons direct
and give them valuable first-hand les
sons. The work has become part of
the school curriculum. and the COM
munity looks to- the school for advice
and help of this sort.
In order to promote the social, edu-
cational, agricultural, and material ad-
vancement of the community, School
District Fair association was organ
lied. This association held it's first
annual fair on October 16, 1914
Among the important results achieved
were increased appreciation on the
part of the boys and girls for their op-
portunities in farm club work, and the
new community interest in local in
dustrial possibilities.
With agricultural cooperation Sc
cured. it was comparatively easy for
the community to begin other phases
of social development. The school
started this by interesting the people
both young and old-in games, which
were played on the school grounds On
Saturday afternoons patrons and
pupils meet on the grounds and enjoy
themselves playing volleyball. tennis,
and other games. Literary societies
meet in the school building, where
many things of community importance
are discussed.
Before the establishment of the new
| school with its new relationship to the
community, only the smaller children
attended the school; the older ones
sought work and entertainment else
where. At the present time the young