Rural School Leaflet 799 



NOTES 

 The Editor 



i. the rural teacher 



In the State College of Agriculture we believe in 

 the rural school teachers of New York State. The 

 deep interest shown by many of them in the effort 

 to improve country-life conditions has been most 

 encouraging. Some of the best educational work 

 being done in New York State can be found in rural 

 schools. Many men and women are making earnest 

 effort to help boys and girls in the country to a realization of 

 educational opportunities. We consider it a privilege to work with such 

 teachers. We hope they will feel free to make suggestions at any time 

 that will aid the Department of Rural School Education of the State 

 College of Agriculture in more efficiently reaching the boys and girls in 

 country districts. 



In the welfare of the country child, nu-al teachers have a great deal of 

 responsibility. Often a child remains with one teacher for several school 

 years, and in this way the teacher has a better opportimity to help him 

 than many city teachers have who teach but one grade. In many cases, 

 owing to inexperienced parents, or to the fact that parents are having so 

 serious a life struggle that there is but Httle time to attend to the boys 

 and girls, young persons enter the rural school who need attention aside 

 from their mental development. Although many teachers are fully aware 

 of these essentials, we should like to mention some of them for the benefit 

 of the younger and more inexperienced persons who enter this year into 

 the responsible position of teaching boys and girls. We ask consideration 

 of the following: 



Physical condition of the children. — Every teacher should be interested- 

 in the physical welfare of the children under his care. Their whole future 

 depends on health. The busy mother does not always notice that a child 

 is breathing through his mouth instead of through his nose ; she does not 

 always notice that his teeth need attention; she does not always notice 

 that he is gradually showing less vitality. Effort is being made by the 

 State Board of Health to awaken persons in rural communities to weak- 

 nesses in sight and hearing among boys and girls. The movement should 

 meet with hearty cooperation. It is the duty of every teacher who observes 

 physical defects in the pupils in his classroom to do what he can to help 

 them, and to see that parents understand the danger that threatens the 

 young persons. 



