I030 



Rural School Leaflet 



THE DISTRICT SCHOOL 



From rural schools have come men and women who have made the 

 United States prosperous and powerful in the world's history. In rural 

 schools to-day are boys and girls who will add to the prosperity and the 

 power of our great country. Every opportunity should be given to them 

 for education that will fit them for country life or for city life. The school 

 should be comfortable and attractive. There should be plenty of land 

 around it for out-of-door experiments, for playgrounds, for planting that 

 will give an approach to the school building that \vill dignify it, for a 

 trembling poplar near the window to make music when breezes are about, 

 for maples or elms that provide quiet and shade, for evergreens that give 

 shelter to winter birds, and for crocuses and tulips that add a joyful note to 

 the spring coloring, — all these things can be made a vital part of education. 



Is your school comfortable, attractive, well heated.'' Are the grounds 

 around it planted? Have you a place for fami crop or garden experi- 

 ments? Are the outhouses so clean and well cared for that }'ou would 

 be willing at any time to have the trustee, your parents, or any one from 

 the Department of Education inspect them? Is there a good library 

 in the school? Are the walls well cared for, the windows clean, the doors 

 and entrances in good repair? Have you individual drinking-cups ? 

 If there is no water jar, is there a dipper that will enable you to fill your 

 cup without dipping a cup that has been used into the pail ? Why should 

 you avoid dipping such a cup into the pail? Is your stove jacketed as 

 are some stoves in rural schools in order that the heat may be more evenly 

 distributed throughout the room? Is the interior of your building free 

 from clutter? Has it neat walls on which there are one or two good 

 pictures simply but carefully framed? If you cannot answer " yes " 

 to these questions your school is behind man}^ others, and we know that 

 you will want it to be among the best. Older folk, trustees, parents, and 

 teachers, will help boys and girls to have many advantages when all work 

 together to secure the best educational surroundings, particularly when 

 pupils show appreciation of improvements. Tell us all about your school 

 and be sure to write to us when anything has been done to make the 

 building and grounds more serviceable and attractive. 



