Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-06-28
RURAL SCHOOLS
BY w. CLYDE JOHNSON.

those who care. 1 would be strong
for there is much to suffer.
would be brave for there is much
to dare. | would be friend to all
the poor and friendless. / would be
giver and forget the gift. 1 would
be humble for know my weakness.
I would look up and love and laugh
and lift"
/ found the above verse on the
card of w. II. Lynch, visitor for the
Springfield State Normal School. Mr..
Lynch visits the schools of his terri
tory, then gives the interview to the
local paper in which he scores their
few follies and praises highly their
many virtues. He then buys at
his own expense many copies of the
paper and mails them to the other
newspapers in the district. He is
a subscriber to more than 100 papers,
magazines and the like. He is a
very jolly spirit and is doing a
great work in his district. 1t was
my pleasure to meet him at our con-
vention at Jefferson City month
ago. May he live forever.
This was Mr.. Lamkin's first con-
vention, but, to my notion, it was
the best we ever had. There was
more to be learned, more inspiration,
more enthusing and preparing us for
the most successful work in our his
tory. Surely, we may expect great
things under the administration of
Mr.. Lamkin.
The greatest feature OF he con-
vention was the work of Doctor Hol-
den, of the Agricultural department
of the International Harvester Co.
His work was so interesting and
worth while that together with T.
]. Walker, rural school inspector in
Mr.. Lamkins, office and possibly
other county superintendent, ex-
pect to spend this last week ofthe
month and of the school year in
Chicago working under him, antici-
pating a pleasant and profitable
week.
AS this closes the school year
think we should recall the many
good things done by teachers, chill
dren, school board members and pa.
irons during the year. At least 80
schools are now approved and sew
eral more are ready. 1 think We
shall have 40 in another year, or 81
per cent. Al have heaters, about
of them bought this year, and other
getting ready to buy. At least II
, have jackets, which is far better
than the unprotected stove. Neal
dozen have drinking fountains t,
protect the health. Many guarded
against disease further by digging
deep wells, cleaning out the old one
and purifying the water, cleaning
the outbuilding and using chlorid,
first to screen against the fly? On
new house was built, Macedonia
and Sneed has just voted bonds witt
, but one dissenting ballot, to pu
up a modern building to cost $500
: There are others that will do like
wise in a few years. How coul
they make better investment of the
money? Elm Bend was remodeleC
C number made extensive improve
v ments, adding a porch, anteroon
q solid foundation etc. Most of tn
schools held one or more suppers {
10 entertainments, and obtained none
3 for the purchase library books an
If needed equipment. Nearly all I'll
teachers have a first grade certif
X icate or better, many spend the
m vacation in summer school and abo,
lie six are married. Salaries are slow
increasing, but are not at all VIII
ID they should be. Enrolment al
II punctuality is increasing, but Meth
ne is what IL ought TO De.
Six schools last year used fir
err text books and were we'll please
r. AS many more rural schools, al
nd Vandalia and Laddonia, will u
n them next year. Farber has su
il cessfully done ayear's work und
sr. consolidation getting three yea
at work approved Laddonia has 81
Az ceeded in becoming a first class hi
of school and Martinsburg now has t.
ne years work accredited.
Truly. things are moving IN A
III drain, as evidenced at the amt
in school election, when one rul
school voted a 80 cent levy withC
ais a dissenting vote, and another dec
,xt ed to build school house, hesi(