9i8 



Rural School Leaflet. 



/■■ 



^ 



One of the lessons required by the Syllabus for the more advanced 

 grades is to have the children classify the dog, cat, horse, rabbit, squirrel, 

 and mouse as useful and harmful animals. We are giving in this issue a 

 few facts that may be helpful to teachers who have not access to books 

 on animal life, but we hope the children will be encouraged to make 

 observations themselves on this lesson. A letter recently sent from 

 one of the principals of a New York school sa3^s that the most serious 

 enemy of the young apple trees in his section is the rabbit. While 

 we do not believe young children should be encouraged in taking 

 life, they should be taught to make actual observations on animal 

 life that their knowledge may be as complete and practical as possible. 



As the children study each plant teach 

 them to associate it with other plants of 

 the same family. Classification of plants 

 and animals gives foundation for actual 

 study, and quite young children take an 

 interest in tracing likenesses and differ- 

 ences in the individuals of the same 

 family. 



Letters. — We are very anxious to have 

 at least three letters during the year from 

 each child receiving our Leaflets. We 

 ask most earnestly that teachers have 

 the children write to us during the com- 

 ing months. These letters help us to get 

 the point of view of the children and 

 often to find out their needs. The children 

 may write on any outdoor subject and 

 we prefer to have the letters sent to us 

 without corrections. We are not particular as to the kind of paper 

 the children use. We hope they will write freely, knowing we shall 

 not be critical in regard to penmanship or punctuation. We like to 

 get the thought of the child. Following is a little letter very satis- 

 factory to us: 



Dear Sir: 



My friend and I got in an argument, one night I saw something up 

 by the moon that looked some like a star. About 8 o'clock it was on 

 the north side of the moon and about lo o'clock it was above the moon. 

 I told my friend that it was a Electric Bloon and it was sent up from 

 the big citys and that no one went with it. He ask his folks about it 



Fig. 24. — To ivhat family of plants 

 does the clover belong f 



