Mexico Missouri message., 1917-09-13
RURAL SCHOOLS
BY W. CLYDE JOHNSON.

u tONu anu tily DOgS "HO are nlBl
school graduates is $3.50 while that
of those who have had no such train
ing averages only S68S. 1t can there
fore be seen that a high school course
is a mighty good investment-and
that is why such an institution ought
to be brought out into the country
rather than that the country boy and
girl should be compelled to go to
town after it,
In accordance with the law, have
each year held a school board con-
yention, and many presidents, clerks
and other school board members have
attended. School men all over the
country are praising the wisdom OIL
this law. 1t is the best money spent
by the district-the expenses of the
board to these meetings. A great
awakening is taking place wherever
they are largely attended. 1t is un-
fortunate that our train service is no
better But many come each year
and express themselves as we'll pleas
ed and profitably entertained and in
structed.
On account of the session of the
Circuit Court, we shall not be able
to get the Circuit Court Room the
18th. So l think best to wait until
the 29th, the last Saturday in Sep
tember. | hope that it will be pos
sible for each district to be repre-
sented here then. Can yo unot sur
pass the teachers? Only four of
them were absent Two were sick.
do not know what reason the others
had for preventing the count y from
making a proud record. Won't you
do all you can to make it 100 per
cent? If you cannot come, get some
one to come in your place. Get the
other members to come with you and
share the money with them as several
did last year.
A few schools have not yet started.
Three of the teachers are sick-Miss
Yea Smith, McClintic; Msis Tommie
Roberts, Sun Rise, and Mss Beatrice
McNiel, Prairie Mound. Miss Mabel
Day who has taught two years in
Iowa supplying for Mss Mcneil.
William Ruffer, 326 Empire Builu-
ing, Denver, Colorado, writes that
there is a great scarcity of teachers
with them, teachers for rural schoois>
grade and high schools.
l spent few hours in the school
at Vandalia this week. Superintend-
ent Thomas is continuing his excel
lent improvements. The building
has been thoroly cleaned and painted
and the floors oiled. A new Domestic
Science Departmenthas been added
Everything is in first-class condition
"a very pleasant and wholesome
workshop. Certainly this is an in
vestment that will pay big dividends
Read again the first paragraph and
see what Mr.. Hirth has osay in his
Missouri Farmer.
Farber, too, is getting everything
. in first-class condition the Consoli
dated District. At Prairie Mound
the floor has been oiled and the house
painted inside and out; % pupil:
were present, knew ones having
just come in. The school at Farbel
is crowded. Miss Lillian Richard!
. again has the primary. Miss Odessa
} GIBSON is the new teacher of the
grammar grades, Miss Edna Ralstor
is the new principal and F. L. SlooI
: is the new superintendent. All are
t we'll equipped for their work and will
makeit successful school. Tht
= school is now approved, IL units, Of
= three years work. This makes it {
second-class high school. Audrail
has three first st-class-Vandalia Lad
" donia and Mexico; one second, Far
. Der, and one third, Martinsburg
Rush Hill and Benton City do som
high school work. Five classified
high schools for one county is an ex
cellent showing ,and especially whe
: they are of such high class.
We want to remember and ge
ready for the great patriotic rail-
. day, September 10. 1t is time ths
we were teaching more patriotism
= the rural schools, so let us do oU
" part on this great day. Can we nj
have number of schools represent
ed and in line with teacher, boar
:, members, pupils with banners an
patriotic songs and yells ? Why not
TEACHERS READING CIRCLE