Mexico Missouri message., 1917-01-11
RURAL SCHOOLS
BY w. Clyde johnson.

there were no pictures, DOCKS, maps
or equipment of any sort, that she
would first set herself to work to get
the house in a clean and sanitary
condition. Then she would clean up
the yard and the outbuildings. Next
she would secure a loan of some pic
lures, and got other and most need
ed equipment through funds secured
from entertainments of some sort
and the assistance OF School Board,
patrons, pupils and young people of
the community. In short, IL she found
herself in q school house like a very
few in Andrain are, she would either
clean out and fix up things, or she
would get out. Once in a while I see
a teacher spend six or eight months
in a place without making any worthy
betterment of conditions, no matter
how badly they need 1t. But not so
for Miss jessie Lee Atkins. who
teaches at Highland. She has but a
six-months term. The district has
valuation OF but S35.57O and the
best they can do with 65-cent levy
is to run six-months school paying
$40 per month, with nothing left to
buy necessary equipment. With the
proceeds obtained from a pie supper
and from an entertainment given by
"a II II ~ To
she persuaded to come out and help
her, she has bought FIVE large, beau
tiful framed pictures, window blinds,
and q number of books for carrying
out the course of study. These are
certainly worthy improvements and
Miss Atkins deserves much praise for
her worthy efforts. She is going to be
able to maintain the required attend
ance. thereby making it possible for
this district to receive 5000 State
aid another year.
w. F. Clark at Pleasant Grove also
gave a pie suppen and was able to
start a fine library with SO bulletins,
% classics, and 25 or more books
very suitable for the benefit of the
school. Without exception, every
school in the county has at least a
few books for a library and supple
mentary work. Other important i'm
provements are a good jacket for the
stove, a new toilet for the girls with
blind in front of it, chart for
reading and number work, and the
blackboard has been painted They
also had a fine little Christmas enter
tainment.
Miss Grace Copman at Beaver Dam
is doing very credible work. In her
agricultural class, theY tested seeds
of various kinds, as we'll as per-
formed other interesting and prac-
teal experiments. In her arithmetic
recitations, instead of having pupils
solve again the book problems, she
gave them numb er of interesting
and original ones. She also has put
in little store to add interest in the
smaller number classes. At her own
expense she is furnishing rata for the
smaller pupils, who are doing some
Interesting work. The agriculture
class also has made an INTEREST,". y
collection of banks and of bugs. the
latter being preserved ir bottles.
Other improvements are a heater,
painting and sweepo. Some time in
the spring she will make a Parents
Day and will exhibit her work. She
has some clay modelling also to show.
Eller. Miss Edna RICHTER, teacher,
has a new roof, new painting, all
buildings in good shape and a sani-
tary drinking fountain.
Union has been greatly improved
with paint and paper. Miss Dottie
Angel is the teacher. She expects to
go to Kirksville as soon as school is
out. Miss Atkins, Miss Copman, Miss
Rudd and Mr.. Clark also will spend
thier vacation in Kirksville.
Burke, Miss Marian Rudd, teacher.
has a new desk and chair for the
teacher. w. L. Ballew, at Flynt, has
secured many good Improvements
new out buildings, almost fly tight, an
organ, sanitary drinking fountain,
saw dust for sweeping, uuderpin-
ming for the house. High Hill this
year has 65-cent levy to pay for
the fine fence, new coal house, walk
to we'll and other useful improve
ments made in the last few years.
They also have a heater, sanitary
fountain, sand table and measuring
tins for dry and liquid measuring.
This is the only school in the county
that has these measures, although
| think they are very useful, impor-
tant and necessary equipment.