The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-06-01

: feature Of most town and city schools
4 This instruction is needed just az
s much in the country school and can be
: established with small expenditure
. Of money and the help of the parents
and friends Of the children. Attrac-
tive school grounds, simple play
9 ground equipment and repairs inside
, the school house have all been accom-
: plished by schools entered in the con-
, test.
The money for improvements is
J earned in various ways. Soap orders
semcs to be the most popular way Of
) raising funds, then come entertain
ments. Some of the schools have held
ice cream sales, candy sales and May
parties. One school held rabbit-pie
supper from which they realized $500.
In communities where there is little
social life, these little gatherings are
worth much TO the parents as well as
to the children. The school house has
ALWAYS been community center. In
New England church services, town
meetings, and political gatherings
used TO be held in the school house.
An attractive, we'll furnished school
house can easily be used for social
club house. In one district in Mon
to,, tLa fan,tIia. ha,ta nruani1aJ a
neighborhood club with meetings at
the school house Saturday evenings.
During the school year an interested
teacher of elocution in nearby city
meets the club members twice a
month, helping them with little plays
and entertaining with readings Of her
own. She gives her time and services,
only asking transportation to and
from the city. Through her efforts
a circulating library has been INSTALL
ed, and in the summer time tennis and
croquet courts are maintained near the
school house.
The improvements that usually sug-
gest themselves when we think of the
country school, such as slate black
boards, flags and flag poles, teeter-
boards and swings for the play
ground, flowers for the yard, etc, have
been successfully carried out by many
Of the schools in the county. Carry
ing these suggestions further, grounds
have been graded and gravel walks
made with the help Of some kind
neighbor or parent who drew load
Of gravel to the school yard; boys
have been taught to make flower boxes
and put them on brackets at the win
dows while the girls planted flowers
and made curtains, etc. Floors have
been oiled, desks and furniture var
nished and the inside of the rooms
painted and kept clean with the aid
and direction of the teacher.
Some unusual improvements have
,een made that show great thought
rulness on the part of the teacher and
1enfit to the pupils in her charge. One
,eacher writes that with some money
armed they purchased an oak medi-
ine cabinet which they filled with
First Aid" supplies; with these the
hildren are taught first aid" prin-
iples. In another school an interest
d person gave some dishes and an
il stove. The teacher has given two
ooking lessons in school and conduct
d an evening party for the children
nd their parents, preparing some new
ainty on the oil stove for refresh
lents-a lesson to the older cooks as
,ell as the beginners. Victrolas have
cen purchased or are wanted in many
,hools and when we think Of the inn
ortant place music holds in our social
fe, the use of Victrola in the school
as endless possibilities as a means
I instruction and entertainment. One
acher is using the money raised TO
-ovide warm lunches for her pupils
noon and another hopes 10 build
'ncrete steps TO the school house.
Aside from the use and possession
these things, there is wonderful
sting lesson taught the girls and
,ys in earning and spending the mon
for improvements and in working
gether for common good. New
lents will be discovered and the nat
al energy of the children put TO
.luable use. We try to make our
mes attractive and comfortable for
g children. When the girl or boy is
1 enough to have his very own room,
spend time and money TO make it
eerful and appropriate. DO we ever
alize the amount Of time a child
ends at school, often in an ugly
ilding, poorly furnished, with dis
reeable surroundings These things
iuence child's mind indirectly and
lool time is not interesting TO them.
We need your interest and help in
work we are trying 10 do in the
FOOLS. This years contest has been
~ successful: we shall soon be