364 Misso-uri Agricultural Beporf. 



when it was decided that Agriculture should be taught in the rural 

 schools such arguments did not prevail. Practically none of the teach- 

 ers of the rural schools had had any work in Agriculture. What did 

 they do? They filled our summer schools in the Normals and in the 

 University and were given a course in agriculture for the rural schools, 

 adapted to their needs as rural school teachers. They went back to their 

 work the following year and began, in a small' way perhaps, to teach the- 

 elements of Agriculture. As I see it, exactly such a procedure is neces- 

 sary to put Domestic Science in rural schools. I have little faith that 

 the women of the State, as a whole, will demand it. New things in our 

 school courses do not come that way. I have however great faith in the 

 efficacy of the demands of women's organizations of whatever kind,, 

 when they are applied to those who decide upon the course of study for 

 our schools. Let the Home Economics departments of the clubs of the 

 State actively espouse the cause of Domestic Science education and put 

 its sentiment into a demand that this be the next step in our industrial 

 educational projects, and it will not be long before a beginning is made 

 as it now has been made in teaching Agriculture. 



Many persons would favor the work in rural schools if they be- 

 lieved it were practicable. To show how such a course may be given in 

 the 'little red school house at the cross roads' is the object of this 

 discussion. 



Modern educational methods seek to bring the child into close 

 touch with his surroundings. He is interested in the things of his 

 daily life and the activities of the community. In Domestic Science 

 in rural schools I would apply this same principle. It is in fact the 

 key note to its success. Given then the rural school, with its ever pres- 

 ent lack of funds, the average rural teacher who has spent two months 

 in a summer school where she pursued a course in Domestic Science 

 suited to her needs as a rural teacher, and where under a trained 

 teacher in home economics she has worked out some things which she 

 may carry out successfully in her school with little equipment, how then 

 shall she go about it? In the first place she will need from $10.00 to 

 $20.00 for equipment. With this she will buy necessary cooking utensils 

 and a small alcohol or coal oil stove. In the course which she has worked 

 out will be found four general subjects, namely: "The Home," "Sani- 

 tation and Hygiene," "Food" and "Sewing." Perhaps in the begin- 

 ning she will confine herself to one of these, say "Food," but in this 

 discussion I shall show how each may be related to the active home life 

 of the child. 



When school begins in the autumn we will begin our work in foods 

 on fruit. Enough fruit may be obtained to study a few typical ones 



