News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1922-11-29
HOW MY DISTRICT SCHOOL
COULD BE IMPROVED
Three Prize Winning Essays-Agnes
M. Sargent of Rutland Wins First


M. Sargent of Rutland Wins First
Last spring an essay contest was
conducted under the auspices of the
State Department of Education on
the matter of improving rural schools,
Through the kindness of woman in
tensely interested in good schools for
Vermont (who does not wish her
name to be advertised) three prizes
were offered for the best essays sent
in on the subject, Glow My District
School Could Be Improved"
Over 6S essays were sent in and
submitted to committee of judges
consisting of Mason S. Stone of
Montpelier, Miss Mary E. Moody
of Morrisville and the Rev. Arthur
H. Sargent of West Fairlee.
The three best essays were judged
to be those written by Miss Agnes
M. Sargent of Rutland, first prize;
Miss Myrtle B. Seaver of Williams
town, second prize; Miss Mae E. S.
Sweat of East Hardwick, third
prize.
The story winning first prize fol-
lows:
How My District School Could Be
Improved
The school about which l shall
endeavor to write is a one room
rural school located in the town of
Rutland three miles north of Rutland
city.
The name of it is the Post school.
1t cannot be classified as stand
ard school, ION account of the size
of the schoolroom and the heating
plant.
At one time there was a jacket
around the stove, but not being prop
erly constructed, the schoolroom could
not be suitably warmed and conse-
quently the jacket had to be removed.
The stove now in use is in very
bad condition.
We have eight windows in our
schoolroom, properly arranged so as
to give light from the left and back
of the room.
The ventilation does not prove very
satisfactory, as fresh air can only
be admitted by raising the window
and in cold weather is liable to strike
directly on the backs of the pupils.
Better results could be obtained in
my estimation by the use of window
boards or by an air passage at the
top and another at the middle be-
tween the sash.
We have three slate blackboards in
very good condition.
Through the kindness of our
superintendent we have a school
library.
Our drinking utensils could be
greatly improved, having only a tin
pail; the children use individual
drinking cups, but they cannot be
sufficiently protected from dust and
dirt and consequently in many in
stances are unsanitary.
Many Improvements can be sug-
gested which would greatly improve
my school.
The following are a few practical
improvements which / have in mind
and their estimated cost:
First of all, the schoolroom needs
to be made considerably larger to
accommodate the number of children
which attend school.
AS | suggested before window
boards should be used which should
not cost more than the stock.
A jacketed stove from $125 up.
Chair desks or adjustable desks
from $3.50 to $11.50 up.
A teachers desk with plenty of
drawer space and working locks, $24
up.
Suitable chairs for adults, $3.50.
Protected shelves for lunch boxes
can be easily made at home.
Bulletin board; should be made to
fit a designated space, smooth board
with dark green or brown burlap
(color chosen to harmonic with ton
ing of the schoolroom) stretched
over. Edges finished by molding.
Can be home made. Cost depending
upon labor.
A globe-suspension preferred
Pinch, 11.25.
Drinking arrangements should con-
sist of a covered dish with faucet,
pl'cO. dp6I cups, Pl.OO pei lOOs
Shoe scraper-a flexible steel mat
18x30 inches, $1.75, is better than
sharp shoe scraper and serves the
same purpose with less danger.
Door mat-braided cocoa, 32x36
inches, $2.95.
A clock, $500 up.
First aid, $685. up
Apparatus for organized play, both
indoors and outdoors, is needed.
Many indoor games can be home
made. Bean bags and balls are popu-
lar with most pupils.
Individuals in communities can be
to put up swings, ropes
and rings, teeters and other appara-
tus, sometimes bearing the entire
expense. Manufactured play equip
ment is usually costly.
Play is now regarded as one of the
most important factors in the educa-
ton of children. Up TO the present
time it has not been as widely used
as it should be.
Every rural school should have
In many instances the