The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-01-04
Industrial bjects for the Rural
Schools.

past. tx Iowa ranks among the
first of thu tates in the union in the
provision, hade for education and
as resi- there are a greater per-
centage its people who can read
and writ Ind are thus prepared by
their ed, (tion to be happy and val
liable eli ens, than can be found in
any oth state in the union. This
Is most fortunate for it not
only m; BIS for happiness and pros
perity Iowa but it's people are
awake the growing demands for
educat hal advantages of the very
best Iowa boys and girls.
We hturally look to city school
systel with their trained body of
teach and efficient superintendent
to b( aders in developing subjects
the eds of our progressive day.
And are not disappointed. Every
who in the past twenty-five years
new objects have been tried out and
new methods have been used until
We n find today in every city in
str ion given in those subjects
pla ed especially to meet the pres
en- ay demands upon our boys and
gin as they go into life. This has
9u1 nore than one-half of the boys
IN girls of Iowa do not live in
it s. There has been tendency
ii he good people of Iowa to send
II children into the cities to be
Id Gated in order that they may have
ID advantage of this superior and
II e complete training. 1t is rea-
j d that a few weeks or months of
" tier schooling each year in ''read
'ritin', and rithmetic," is not
fcient to meet the twentieth cen
~ demands made upon our young
en and women who groW up on the
ethods, the we'll equipped school
Id the specially trained teacher are
II needed if the farm boy and girl
re to be interested, kept in school
hid prepared for efficiency, happiness
Ind success in life.
Why should they not have it? We
re citizens Of the same state, which
ur taxes support, and the state of
owa is doing it's part. In the fol-
,wing ways we may reach the de-
ired results:
lst-Consolidate our school dis
,icts. merging three or four small
choois III one large one, where ev-
ry advantage of the city school may
e had and our children be a. home
very night.
2nd-improve our own rural
chool. See that enough taxes are
aised to employ a well qualified
eacher, supply needed equipment
nd material, and we have school of
-hich all may be proud, in which
ne children will delight, and FROM
r, perhaps, go out into life as we'll
repaired &c those who have attend
d the graded school in the city.
Without any doubt, consolidation
the best solution of the rural
:hool problem in most localities. 1t
t once provides for splendid train
lg for boys and girls under nearly
leal conditions. OF this we shall
rite in future issues. Just now we
re especially interested in the one
pom rural school and the ways in
hich it may best serve its COM
unity.
Among other improvements which
ay be urged is the introduction of
le industrial subjects, Manual train
e, domestic science and agriculture.
he state already requires by law
lat these shall be taught, for it is
,alized that without them no school
IN do justice to it's children. So
,luable are they found as part of
yery schools training that a bill is
DIV before our national congress
'iation to be expended in all the
ates to help train boys and girls in
lese subjects in order that they may
, better prepared for industrial life.
Our own state not only requires by
W that the Industrial subjects be
ught but it has appropriated mon
:, now being spent to train teachers
J that they may teach manual train
g, domestic science and agriculture
the schools of the state. Decatur
'unty is fortunate in. having far
I being spent in study centers held
various points in the county. The
seem to have faith in De-
ltur county schools and in what |
ley can do. Under this plan our
achers receive regular training
lch month under the instruction of
/ especially qualified man sent out |
, the State College at Ames. More
ian one-half of the rural teachers
the county are taking the training
lie Saturday in each month and
is not enrolled. and school officers
lould insist that their teacher at
nd and bring back to the school
10 training and inspiration needed
make their school one of the best
I've county.
Cooperation is the thing needed.
arents, school officers, and teach
s must unite their efforts if the best
suit are to follow. In general the
acher have shown a splendid spirit.
ome have gone to two or more
udy centers at different points in the
'unty in a month in order that their
aiming may be of the best. Others
me to the centers and bring their
der boys with them that they may
70 the work done and get start
1der the Ames instructor. In some
calities parents have been glad to
ly simple tools and material for the
,ys to work with, where the school
)ards have not yet supplied them.
other places the teacher, school
Id community have united in some
oney-making enterprise and funds
ave been raised to buy tools and
God. In some schools the boards
ave at once seen the wisdom Of the
w requiring the teaching of indus
ial subjects and have made all
ecessary provisions for it and have
lrchased whatever was needed, OF
,urse this last plan is the one we
ust all come to as soon as possible.
AS our teachers are trained to lead
10 hOyS in their work the schools