I370 RiTRAL School Leaflet 



Now, who will teach these little children? Some of the lessons of life 

 will be learned in the homes. There are parents throughout the country 

 who realize the importance of good food, of fresh air in sleeping rooms, 

 of daily care of the teeth, of cheerful fireplaces, of happy and useful home 

 life, of the growth in out-of-door sports, and of association with good 

 books, and the value, particularly to the farm child, of a knowledge of 

 nature. Many children, however, who wiU enter the schoolhouse door 

 some day this month of September, will have had but little right teaching; 

 therefore, opportunity will come to the school-teacher who wiU help by her 

 life work to leave behind those who, because of her inspiration and help, 

 will doubtless go further than she. Toward this end the teachers this 

 year, each and every one, are asked to consider some of the following 

 suggestions that may help to make a stronger and more useful manhood 

 and womanhood in the country districts of New York State. 



A meeting of the parents. — At a meeting of the parents the teacher should 

 present as fuUy as possible the plans for th6 year's work. If the parents 

 in the district have not previously cooperated with the teacher, it might 

 be well to mention only a few of the results desired, because many commu- 

 nities at the present day need to be educated along new ideas and ideals 

 for the development of the rural school. Too many requests at one time 

 might defeat the work. 



The improvement of the school building and grounds. — Much has been 

 done to improve the physical surroundings of the school, in many rural 

 districts. In some of them, however, nothing of this kind has as yet been 

 accomplished. This year a beginning will doubtless be made in almost 

 all, because the success of the teacher is now measured not alone by the 

 textbook work of the school, but by the progress of the school as an edu- 

 cational district. If the community is not willing to give any money for 

 improving the school, the teacher and the boys and girls can make a be- 

 ginning by having an ideal of neatness and cleanliness. When the people 

 in a community see something accomplished in this respect, they will be 

 more ready to help the enterprise financially. It does not take much 

 money to make things clean, to have neat curtains or shades at the windows, 

 and the like. Some trustees recognizing the earnest endeavor of teacher 

 and pupils have planed, sandpapered, and varnished the desks; still others 

 have helped in redecorating the interior of the building as well as. in im- 

 proving the general outside conditions. The children will be glad to help 

 in cleaning up the groimds, and in taking part in some simple planting. 



Physical background. — The health of boys and girls of school age should 

 receive constant attention. If children are breathing through their mouths 

 instead of through their noses, the cause should be investigated. Fresh 

 air in the sleeping room should be discussed. Care of the teeth is most 



