The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-03-15
SAYS RURAL SCHOOLS LACK
Mrs. z. e. Hoyt Urges Rural Parent
Teacher Associations to Pull Up
Standards Of Schools - Mr..
Kruger Speaks.

Unfortunately neither the weather
nor the roads were propitious for the
rural residents who contemplated at
tending the Community Institute meet
ing that opened its annual session in
Kenosha county today. That is doubly
unfortunate as the talks were es
pecially good, touching upon vital
subjects and holding the interest of
those that heard them.
The rural schools were the center
upon which Mrs. E. E. Hoyt's talk
revolved when she addressed a meeting
of women in the Park Avenue Meth
odist Church this morning, Mrs
L. M. Theirs presiding and introduce
ing the speaker.
Before the talk began a remarkably
good musical program was furnished
by. the Girls Glee Club of the High
school.
".We often think Of The rural schools
as negligible factor in the education
of the American boys and girls, and
yet, +" said Mrs. Hoyt, "when we re-
feet that three-fths of all the boys
and girls of grade school age in the
United States are in these. schools we
realize how vastly important to the
country at large the rural school is.
"The city schools have progressed
rapidly in method and equipment
in the past few years, but the rural
schools are tagging behind.
cit is g sad commentary upon them
that the boys and girls who receive
thei reducations in the rural schools
do not have the. same opportunity for
a successful life that those Of the city
schools do.
"The salvation of the rural school
must come through the Parent Teacher
Association, I believe" the speaker
went on. "This is the means by which
better conditions can be brought about
The parent teacher association is the
one efficient social melting pot of a
community. 1t destroys all lines Of
social cleavage. Organizing the par
ents into one body bri. gs a construc-
every community has its specific and
individualistic problems, each communi-
ty needs this body of interested men
and women in touch with all con
ditions in the community to success
! fully work them out.
FEThe parent-teacher association
touches life on many sides-sanitation
recreation, social gatherings and a
general community understanding comes
through these organizations.
"The unimproved rural schoolhouse
that has not adopted modern equip
ment and methods is q menace, not
only to the health of the children at
tending, but to the entire community
and even to those outside for from the
community comes the milk and produce
which will carry to other communities
any infection which exists there.
"It is fact that typhoid and many
other diseases are more prevalent IN
country than in city.
Another astounding fact is that
the average health of children in the
CITY, including the slum districts with
their dirt, is better than that Of the
average rural child.
Mrs. Hoyt said that while the schools
need the parent-teacher organization
badly, the parents themselves need
them quite as badly to have the slim
illus to action and to better things
which frequent gathering together af-
fords. She spoke of the possibilities
of the parent-teacher organizations
which she asserts have, in many north
ern Wisconsin towns, branched out
into farmer Is clubs and mothers clubs
fairs and various community contests,
involving new interests.
One of the most important things
which Mrs. Hoyt urged upon her hear
ers was the necessity of full time
health officers in the country, and
county school nurses.
simultaneously with the meeting in
progress at the Methodist church, Q
meeting for farmers was in session IN
the Rhode Opera House
"Pure bred grain is just as import
ant as pure bred stock to the success
of the farmer. said IT, r. Kruger
Beaver Dam, IN his talk on Rails
ing Pedigreed Barley and Oats ii
Dodge county,
"Pure bred seed oats will increase