Missouri Country Life Conference. 259 



ing them your companions and partners in business you have 

 their full confidence. Co-operate with the teacher. It gives 

 her a better chance to demonstrate her ability as a teacher. 

 Through co-operation with children, co-operation with the 

 teacher and co-operation with your neighbors you will have a 

 successful school, a credit and honor to district and county and 

 State as well. 



I know some parents who seem to think that the boy or the 

 girl owes them a debt and they hold a mortgage on their lives, 

 and should the boy or girl ask for any money these parents 

 growl about how much they spend, which is about one dollar. 

 When the boy or girl is about fifteen years old — or maybe they 

 will stay until of age — then they are gone to make their own 

 way, leaving the farm with its pure and wholesome surroundings, 

 and going to the city where the lure of big wages and more 

 pleasure attracts and where are temptations and pitfalls for their 

 inexperienced minds. Is it any wonder so many fall by the way- 

 side? Is it any wonder the farm is being depopulated today. 



One more thought, and it is this: How are we to get our 

 rural schools on equal basis, so that the boys and girls in one 

 district may have the same advantages as those in another. 



I believe that a county unit, or still better, a State unit of 

 taxation, would solve the difficulty, the State to equalize the 

 valuation and fix a tax by which every school would be put on 

 an equal basis. By so doing it would give every boy and girl a 

 chance to complete at least a ninth course, and as I have said, 

 that the highest education some boys and girls can ever hope 

 for is our rural schools. It not only enables them to wrestle 

 with the problems of life, but will make better, broader men, 

 and women with higher ideals. 



