The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-12-22

Fiugs are IN poor condition. Money Is
needed. but much can be done with
comparatively little. But what Il for
any reason enough money is not avail
able Then We must rely entirely up
on thought, and work, and skill, and
pride. and conscience, and public
spirit.
Any group Of Vermont farmers can
carpenter enough to help arrange de-
cent out-buildngs that will not en-
danger the morals or health Of the
children; almost any farm has a wood
lot on il, from which enough lumber
can be cut 10 make such few repairs
as are needed, and almost any Yer
mont farmer would be willing to give
few trees to help along the school
ANY group Of Vermont women can
paint woodwork, and kalsomine walls;
any group Of Vermont homes could
spare. one a door-mat, one chair, one
clock. one a wash basin, one waste
basket, and so on. Better to have such
objects lacking from a seldom-used
spare-room, than TO make the children
90 without, day after day.
Any Vermont parent can see to 1t
that his children attend school regu-
larly; any community can see TO 1t
that the teacher has a good place to
board, and that she gets a decent sal
ary. Every Vermont town is requir-
ed by law to provide enough text
books in good condition for all pupils
Do YOU know whether this is done IN
your town? Why, don't you find out
before you go to bed tonight? Any
teacher will tell you. Every Vermont
town is required by law to provide
American flags for the outside Of its
school-houses and a flag should be also
provided for the inside. Are they
flying in your town?
No, the trouble is not that good
rural schools in Vermont would cost US
more money than we can spare. we
have simply neglected them. The
point is, that we cannot have good
rural schools without giving, our
selves, individually, more thought ana
care than we have been willing TO give.
And vets there any element in our
life . in common which deserves
thought and care more than our
schools. or where the thought and care
could be Of more instant usefulness
We all want good roads as much as
we want good schools, but for the
most of US, where roads are concern
ed. we must take it out in wanting, or
else pay heavily in cash. Whereas IN
the matter of good schools, it counts
largely towards improvement merely
to provide a good boarding place Tor
the teacher, and to show her some
pleasant friendly attention, merely TO
hem some towels, contribute some
soap, to give a days work once IN a
while; to supply a few dollars worth
Of paint and the energy to put it on;
to take some personal responsibility
about seeing that the town authorities
do supply the textbooks needed on
time for the beginning of the term; to
make some bean-bags, or a swing or
see-saw for the children's play time;
to haul a load of sand for a sand-pile,
for the little ones, to organize
neighborhood bee to clean up the
sehool-house grounds; if you're
woman, to join with others in giving
an entertainment to make the money
to buy the hardwood boards for
new floor. and then if you're man, to
ioin with Others in laying it without
further cash expenditure-there is no
enterprise in the wide world where
small amount of work will go so far
towards a splendid cause as in improv-
ing a country school here in Vermont.
We don't need to wait for state aid to
help any us Calthough there is state
aid ready to help any community that
will bring its school up for seventy
five per cent standard) nor for town
meeting to take action.
Anybody who will write the state
Department Of Education, at Montpei-
Ter, asking for an official rating card
for rural schools, will get it, and with
this in hand. any one Of US can get
good idea Of what needs TO be done for
the particular school for which, owing
to the location Of cur home, We are
responsible. Then, IL we viii write the
state official in charge Of this work,
Miss Rose Lucia, al Montpelier, we
can get an exact statement Of how
and how much the State will help.
And then We can just roll up our
sleeves. and do as every American
likes 10 do. IN attacking q problem.
aetart now" and edo IL ourselves
MANCHESTER DEPOT