Rural School Leaflet 1407 



outline of which was included with the contest instructions. These 

 blanks were to be returned about one week before the contest day. 



In 1914 the contest was held on October 16. During the evening of 

 October 15 it began to rain. It rained all night and was still raining 

 the next morning. Many times during the past two years I have wondered 

 what I should do if it rained on the day of the school fair. I perceived that 

 this question was about to be answered. It was answered. As soon as 

 the telephone office was open, persons began to ask "Will the school fair 

 be postponed.^" My sincere wish was to have it postponed, but, of course, 

 postponement was not possible. A few exhibits, a few wet and bedrag- 

 gled children, and a few ill-natured parents, were expected. 



It had been planned to register the exhibits from nine to ten-thirty 

 o'clock. From ten-thirty to twelve, while the exhibits were being arranged 

 and judged, an athletic contest, consisting of dashes, high jump, broad 

 jump, slack rope climbing, tugs of war, and the like, had been planned. 

 From twelve to one a basket lunch under the trees was scheduled. The 

 exhibits were to be inspected at one, and the address of the day was to be 

 given at two, followed by the award of prizes. 



How early the exhibits began to arrive was a disputed question. Suffice 

 it to saj^ that eighty-three separate exhibits were registered. The rooms 

 were crowded at ten-thirty, and it was still raining. The use of a hall 

 was secured, and the games were held there. The children were kept 

 busy until after twelve o'clock. 



While the athletic contests were in progress, the exhibits were being 

 judged. When each exhibitor registered, the person in charge took down 

 his name, his age, his school district, his town, and the kind of exhibit. 

 Then the exhibitor was given a card bearing a number, the age of the con- 

 testant, the district num.ber, and the town, which card was attached to 

 the exhibit. Thus the judges did not know to whom they were awarding 

 the prizes. After the judging was completed, the ratings were placed 

 opposite the proper numbers on the registration sheet, which of course 

 gave the contestant's name. Suitable ribbons were placed on the prize- 

 ^vinning exhibits. In addition to the prize ribbons each exhibitor was 

 given a badge when he registered, which signified that he had completed 

 his contest work. When the prizes were awarded both the exhibitor's 

 number and name were given. 



Our aim in the agricultural contest is to teach the child to perceive the 

 honor there is in carrA,dng a piece of work to its logical conclusion and not 

 to work for a prize alone. In order to realize this aim better, we try not 

 to have the prizes too large and to distribute them so that about fifty per 

 cent of the exhibitors shall get something, however small it may be. As 

 I have before stated, we had eighty-three exhibits this year. All the 

 prizes were not won, yet thirty -five were awarded. 



