150 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



abandoned. So much for an understanding of purposes and 

 conditions. 



(At this point in Mrs. Harvey's address the first slide was 

 shown. As the auditorium was darkened from this time on, the 

 official reporter was unable to proceed further.) Much has been 

 written concerning the Porter rural school and Mrs. Harvey's 

 work. The following from the Missouri School Journal is part 

 of an article by Prof. George Melcher of the office of State 

 Superintendent of Schools: 



First and only teacher's cottage in Missouri (so far as we linow), September 1913, showing 

 petunias, geranium bed, etc. Worli of smaller children and teachers. In this case 

 the teacher rents the cottage. 



I shall divide the improvements observed into two classes. I shall name only ten 

 improvements in each class. The first class are ten things that any wide-awake teacher in 

 any Missouri school can do or have done by the pupils or others. 



First. Several sets of good supplementary readers have been purchased. These 

 stimulate interest in reading and in school. 



Second. A good bookcase to protect the books has been made. 



Third. A reading table has been placed in the schoolroom. 



Fourth. A few pictia-es (masterpieces framed) have been hung on the wall, not on 

 nails, but picture molding has been placed around the room. 



Fifth. The desks have been arranged so that seats of the same size are in the same row. 



Sixth. A flag pole has been erected and supports the "Stars and Stripes." 



Seventh. A volley ball has been purchased, a giant stride constructed, horizontal bars 

 (two sizes) set up for the boys, and at recess and before school opened the visitors saw the 

 children really enjoying themselves as one group swung aroimd the giant stride, another 

 group played volley ball and a third group indulged in a game of ordinary ball. These are 

 not the only games in this school, but are the only ones that the visitor saw. 



Eighth. Adjustable window shades have been purchased. By means of these the 

 whole window may be shaded, none of it shaded, the lower part shaded or the upper part 

 shaded; thus complete control of the light is obtained. Such shades can be secured for 65 

 cents each. 



Ninth. A parents' club has been organized and gasoline lights installed. 



Tenth. Agriculture is being taught concretely. The children actually plant seeds, 

 cultivate the growing plants and study their growth. Some of the simpler things in house- 

 hold arts are also taught in a concrete way. 



