Rural School Leaflet 1047 



contests for both boys and girls. There are some lines of competition 

 that will doubtless be of interest to girls only. For a beginning we shall 

 suggest a few simple contests. 



The most important thing to be considered in any contest is leader- 

 ship. Whenever children's contests have been a success, it is because 

 the leader did his part and remained true to the cause until the end. We 

 therefore suggest that this matter be considered most seriously in connec- 

 tion with all woik with the girls. 



It will be best to have a woman in charge of the girls' contests. If 

 the right person can be found she will be of inestimable value to the 

 group of girls. Can you not find some public-spirited woman who is a 

 good housewife, who can cook and sew, who is a real power for good in 

 the neighborhood, who will cooperate with the teacher, or even by herself 

 encourage the girls to meet with her ; to talk over the contests suggested 

 in this leaflet; to make ready to do one concrete piece of work in com- 

 petition with one another? One woman to work with the group of girls 

 will accomplish more than a committee; a number of girls working 

 together with the sympathetic aid of one capable person will do more 

 than a club that becomes involved in organization. Any one of the 

 splendid women now in the grange, who is reaching out in helpful ways, 

 will doubtless be ready to work with the district superintendent and the 

 teachers to make the contests a success. 



In this first leaflet issued in the interest of contests, we are presenting 

 very simple work. If the suggestions are followed, however, foundation 

 will be laid for more advanced work in the future. A beginning in which 

 the entire community becomes interested is important. The girls should 

 enter all contests with the feeling that each will do her best and that a 

 fine character will meet the results of the contest in a high-minded way. 

 To win a prize is always gratifying; but the piece of work is of greater 

 value than the prize. In fact, the most important feature in children's 

 contests is that with right leadership character can be taught in many 

 ways. 



Following are directions for the various contests that will apply to 

 both groups of girls: twelve to sixteen years old, and sixteen to twenty-one. 

 Although the instruction given is the same for all contests, the results 

 of the work will need to be exhibited and judged in at least two groups, 

 as suggested above. 



One thing that the girls should consider seriously, while preparing for 

 the contests in cooking, is that, while the exhibits may be prepared in a 

 short time, success will doubtless depend on the amount of experiment 

 and practice. 



The Editors 



