Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1917-05-03
RURAL SCHOOLS
BY w. CLYDE JOHNSON.


up of the great day we had at Jack
son April 10. 1t is always a great
pleasure to meet with the patrons on
such an occasion. All were we'll
pleased with the work done by their
children under the faithful instruc-
ton of Miss Florence Kirkpatrick.
And two bright, ambitious young girls
had finished the course and were to
receive their diplomas, which will ad-
NIT them into any high school in Mis-
souri,. What pity there is not ru-
raj high school within five or six
miles of them, to which they might
go from home. Then, too, there was
the excellent dinner which made ev-
eryone feel like he was a brother to
all the others. The program was very
good and much enjoyed by all. In
deed it was a very fitting close to a
successful years work l wish that
each district could have just such a
close and that could attend all of
them.
That evening, | attended the clos
ing exercises at Martinsburg. Mar
tinsburg also has enjoyed a very sue
cessful school under the supervision
! of Mr.. Groce. 1t was a beautiful pic
ture, the class of eight high school
and five eigth grade graduates made
But wonder how many felt that they
were ready to go forth and meet life's
! battle! That Martinsburg had done
all for them that she could and
should! DR.. Million made a splen-
did address, after which the Reverend
White presented the diplomas.
In spite of the very disagreeable
weather last Friday, Liberty School
] house was filled to overlooking with
good friends and patrons, also good
I cheer and good things to eat. They,
! too, have had a very successful school
with Miss Blanche White as their
teacher. One little fellowS Strobe Ed
wards, aged six has read a number
of primers, first and second readers,
and had tackled the third reader some
time ago. Who else can report such
a record? Mrs. Kelly at Erisman
also had one. Did you? There was
very interesting program.
One thing out of the ordinary was
the folk games learned by the pupils
during the year. Another thing wor-
thy of commentator Miss White gave
systematic instruction in music this
year. Did you do that? She had
two graduates who must leave home
and friends and go away among
strangers to get what they offer, since
kind and loving friends won't give
their neighbors' children a chance to
; get a high school education right at
home at public expense. Consolida-
ton makes this possible. One hun
in this State are doing this. Why
, don't you? A number of pupils OF
different schools are on the honor
) roll of the Belgium Relief Fund
Some of them are: Clifford Arnold
James Prather, Vivian Davidson and
Helen Bovine of Burnham; Howard
and Henry Allison, Freddie Fritsche
and John Niederschulte, Duly; Jewell
Harper, Dora Doeblin, Howard Max,
well, Roberta Maxwell, Glen Max,
well, Erwin Feutz, Lucy Cornett, Ma.
, ry Erdel, Helen Hearn, Ernest Small.
wood Howard James, Ruth James
, Clarence Erdel, Lille Erdel, and
teacher, Miss Anna Miller, Rush Hill
hope that many others will yet send
in their offerings. This is very wor-
thy cause. Ten cents keeps a child
from starving for day. All the
money goes direct for the help OF
J the starving Belgians. Don't forget
Send in before the goth of each
! month
Two more schools have received
their certificates of approval, Beaver
Dam, Miss Grace Copman, teacher,