Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-01-06


a combination of
the Improvement that is now in prog
reSs.
Optimistic Over Prospects.
Such an optimist is Earl J. Cooper,
assistant state leader of boys and
girls clubs, whom hundreds of Wiscon-
sin boys and girls know and who in
turn knows something of what the
rural school is doing and can do He
believes that studies of rural life,
stimulating topics and projects for the
farm child, playdays and other means
OF enlivening the country school are
creeping into our rural school pro-
gram.
Many of the rural schools of the
state are fulfilling their important
function Of training and interesting the
farm child, and others are not. But
[ believe that schoolteachers and pa
rents are trying more and more to put
real life into the rural school program
There can be no doubt that a few of
these schools are still dead-dead be-
cause they fail to give the boys and
girls a broad and interesting outlook
on the future. They fail to deal with
the home interests of the child to be-
gin with, and fail to keep up with the
times These schools must either
change or lose the boys and girls and
misdirect their interests"
Rural Schools Have Bio Job.
Mr.. Cooper realizes these things be-
and raised on a Wisconsin farm and re-
ceived his primary education in
country school. After his graduation
from the state college of agriculture,
he became interested in boys and girls
clubs, in his capacity as principal of
the states first agricultural high
school. His present work as assistant
leader of the states clubs, and as di-
rector of the men enrolled in the short
course, keeps him in close contact with
the farm boys and girls and their edu
cation.
Simple changes in the rural school
program often make big changes in the
pupils" says Mr.. Cooper. "Let us
take the typical one-room schoolhouse
for example, that teaches only the re-
CURED subjects and nothing else, dur
ing it's nine months session. The
teacher gets the minimum wage of a
rural schoolteacher, and is looking for
ward to new job that will pay little
ho ohi1 Sr1o n
when school is over, and mighty sorry
when it reopens, for its only induce
ment is the diploma that it offers.
Hot Lunch Works Wonders.
"But the picture often changes. a
teacher with ideas and wide-awake
sympathy with rural life problems is
hired at living salary. The general
atmosphere of the school changes.
Before long the old yard is cleaned up,
the gate is hung straight, new flag is
hung on the walls. One day the teach
er suggests hot lunches at noon, 1t
sounds pretty good to the young fellow
who is munching an ice-cold sandwich
that he has brought forth from his tin
pail. The mothers become interested
and at the expense of few dollars
hot lunch equipment is installed.
Johnny's stomach handles his food
quicker, and he himself handles his
brain quicker.
''Then boys and girls agricultural
club is formed. The boys adopt pig,
or a calf, or a flock of chickens for
themselves. They care for them at
home and report their progress at
school. A friendly rivalry is aroused
among the pupils, which adds interest
to the days work. The girls organize
a sewing club and learn how to dress
cheaply and better A playday is held,
and the whole family turns out to join
in the singing, in the games, and in the
lunches. An outsider gives a little
talk. The people become interested in
the school and plan better school and
more equipment.
"The old type of school has lost its
place in our wide-awake farming state
and in its place has been substituted
the vitalized school, which is the CEN
ter of community life-a place such as
farmer could call home, and where
the boys and girls can be helped in be-
coming wide-awake farm boosters"
Il n