974 Rural School Leaflet 



this can be done only when there is present an unselfish ambition to render 

 service without thought of immediate recognition of worth. Later, 

 even though the recognition is no more sought than at first, it will usually 

 be given. 



4. The schoolhouse and grounds. — Something has already been said 

 in this leaflet regarding the importance of having the schoolhouse and the 

 school grounds clean and attractive. On page 176 is an article illus- 

 trative of the success of one school in this line. With a little encourage- 

 ment from the teacher, the children will come to feel a pride in having 

 pleasant surroundings and there are many ways in which they can help 

 to make and keep them so. We should like to see a general movement 

 throughout the State to acquire more land around school buildings. Too 

 often one sees a school yard sixty feet square when there are open fields 

 on three sides. Land is a desirable school asset. It affords opportunity 

 to do a little attractive planting around the building; it gives a much- 

 needed and proper place for recreation that is essential even in the country; 

 and it serves as a place to conduct a few simple experiments in elementary 

 agriculture, which will undoubtedly differ from any home operation 

 and which will serve as a practical application of the ideas suggested in 

 the schoolroom. Land costs little to maintain; the first cost is the only 

 large item. Ten, twenty, thirty years from now many a rural community 

 will be glad to have a good-sized piece of ground for school property. The 

 time to make provision for this is now. The teacher might well take the 

 first step by talking the matter over with the trustees and parents. 



5. Aids to the study of nature. — A museum which will provide a place 

 for the collection and exhibition of specimens is a valuable help in this 

 work. It may be started in a very simple way by putting things on a 

 shelf. Later a small cabinet may be available. It is interesting and 

 surprising to us all to find how many things there are when we see them 

 all at once. In last year's leaflet we printed the following list as sugges- 

 tive of collections that might be made: 



(i) The different types of soil found in the neighborhood: sand, silt, 

 clay, muck, and sandy, silty, and clay loams. 



(2) Common seeds of vegetables, flowers, and farm crops. 



(3) Common grasses: timothy, redtop, meadow fescue, Kentucky 

 blue grass, orchard grass. 



(4) Common legumes of the farm and garden: red, white, and alsike 

 clovers, alfalfa, peas, beans, vetch, soy beans. 



(5) Common cereals: com, wheat, oats, rye, barley, buckwheat. 



(6) Ears of com: flint, dent, pop, sweet. Procure ears showing the 

 qualities that good cars should have. A lesson in corn judging may 

 profitably be given. 



