The Glenwood post., 1923-10-11
something like shame.


OUT to his driver was Mr.. Charles
Duly, business man in the village at
the extreme opposite corner of the
county. Mr.. Dilly was candidate for
county treasurer. and wished to be
nominated at the approaching county
convention. In his part of the county
lived the county superintendent-a
candidate for denomination. He was
just plain garden or field county su-
perintendent of schools, no better and
no worse tl-an the general political
run of them, but he had local pride en-
listed in his cause, and was a good
politician.
Mr. Oily was in the Woodruff dis
trict to build a backfire against this
contlagration of the county superin-
tendent. He expected to use Jennie
Woodruff to light 1T withal. That is,
while denying that he wished to make
any deal or trade-every candidate In
every convention always says that
he wished to say to Miss Woodruff
and her father, that If Miss Woodruff
would permit her name to be used for
the office of county superintendent of
schools, goodly group of delegates
could be selected in the other corner
of the county who would be glad to
reciprocate any favors Mr.. Charles j.
Dilly might receive In the way of
votes for county treasurer with bal
lots for Miss Jennie Woodruff for su-
perintendent of schools.
Mr. Dilly never inquired as to Miss
Woodruff's abilities as an educator.
That would have been eccentric Miss
Woodruff never asked herself If she
knew anything about rural education
which especially fitted her for the
task; for was she not popular and
successful teacher-and was not that
enough? So are the officials chosen
who supervise and control the educa-
tion of the farm children of America.
When Jim Irwin started home from
putting out his team the day after his
first call on the Simms family, Jennie
was waiting ut the gate to be con-
graduated on her nomination.
Il hope you're elected" Jim said,
holding the hand she had extended;
l.
"They say not" replied Jennie; hut
father believes in working just as if
we didn't have big majority for the
ticket. Say word for me when ON
your pastoral rounds"
"All right said Jim, what shall |
say you'll do for the schools?"
why" said Jennie, rather per-
fl In eat. ;,,
lions Of teachers, try to keep the unfit
teachers out of the schools. visit
schools as often as l can. and-why,
what does any good superintendent
dot"
Il never heard of good county
superintendent" said Jim.
Never heard of one-why. Jim Ir.
win."
Il don't believe there Is any such
thing" persisted jim, land If you do
no more than you say, you'll be OFF the
same piece as the rest. Your system
won't give us any better schools than
we haye-of the old sort-and we
need a new kind"
"Oh, Jim, JIM Dreaming as of
yore Why can't you be practical |
What do you mean by a new kind of
rural school?"
at would be correlated with rural
life 1t would get education out of the
things the farmers and farmers wives
are Interested in as part of their
lives"
Jennie looked serious. after smoth-
ering laugh.
jim" said she, you're going to
| lave a hard enough time to succeed
In the Woodruff school, if you confine
Yourself to methods that have been
tested, and found good"
"But tile old methods" urged Jim,
have been tested and found bad
Shall ! keep to them?"
"They have made the American peo-
pie what they are" said Jennie. Don't
be unpatriotic, jim"
"They have educated our farm chill
dren for the cities" said jim. "This
county is losing population-and it's
the best county in the world"
''Pessimism never wins" said Jen-
ME
Neither does blindness" answered
jim. ut is losing the farms their
dwellers, and swelling the cities with
a proletariat"
For some time, now, Jim had ceased
to hold Jennie's hand; and their sweet
heart days had never seemed farther
away.
"Jim," said Jennie, ~ may be elect.
ed to a position in which shall be
obliged to pass on your acts as teach
erin an official way, mean. l hope
they will be justlfable."
Jim smiled his slowest and saddest
smile.
IF they're not, I'll not ask you to
fondone them" said he. But first
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IF5aAsaS& -,