Missouri Country Life Conference. 



143 



suitable grounds, building and equipment, I come to talk of the 

 one-room school. 



Why do I select such a subject? The subject is selected for 

 the same reasons that my present field of work was chosen. 

 Today the air is charged with currents and counter currents of 

 rural enthusiasm. A few experts and numberless nonexperts 

 are offering countless untested theories and prescriptions for the 

 solution of rural problems, as they are termed. At such a time 

 my choice of a one-room school in the open country, a school 

 that offered all typical difficulties as well as some that were 

 unusual, was the subject of wonder and speculation in school 

 circles, and, perhaps, somewhat of a shock to my friends. Because 

 of this it seems appropriate that I explain my interest in the 

 one-room school. 



(a) The one-room school, by reason of its contributions to 

 elementary education in the nineteenth century, has had and 

 still has a strong hold on the confidence and affections of country 

 people. 



(b) Even with the rapidly growing sentiment in favor of 

 the consolidated school and all it stands for, the fact remains 

 that thousands of the most promising boys and girls are suffer- 

 ing for the lack of educational opportunity that is their right. 

 Other thousands will have to suffer before the State can possibly 

 put a good farm school within reach of every home in the rural 

 districts of Missouri. 



(c) Missouri has approximately 10,000 one-room schools, 

 in which at least 200,000 children of varying ages are receiving 

 their preparation for citizenship. 



Community co-operation, September 3, 1912. Bringing sand from river, five miles 



distant, for the basement. 



