Rural School Leaflet 1269 



people into a closer touch with the school, and, at the same time, to put 

 a pleasant, instructive diversion into the school life of the pupils. 



" To aid in the execution of this plan, we have asked the cooperation 

 of those who can do something well, know how to talk about it, and are 

 so in sympathy with childhood that they can express themselves in 

 a manner suited to the understanding of boys and girls. In every in- 

 stance those who have come to us have not only complied willingly with 

 our request, but seem to feel honored by being asked. 



" The ball was started rolling by the appeal of Mr. Tuttle for the 

 celebration of Corn Day. We planned a simple program that in no way 

 interfered with our school work. The primary pupils recited some little 

 poems — ■ most of them previously learned — while ten of my pupils 

 prepared compositions, five on ' Corn ' and five on ' The Hen.' To 

 stimulate to best effort, I offered a prize to the one having the best paper 

 as decided by the united vote of visitors present and non-contestants in 

 the higher grades. The work was given them on Monday as an English 

 lesson, on Tuesday for spelling, on Wednesday for writing, on Thursday 

 for reading. 



" I asked one trustee to talk to the school on ' Corn,' and another, 

 a corn expert, to act as judge of our exhibit. The former gave a most 

 interesting exercise, talking and asking questions, while the latter took 

 infinite pains in making his decision as to the best ear of com. 



" I want to emphasize the fact that to our trustees belongs the greater 

 share of the credit of the success of these attempts. With untiring zeal 

 they have always stood ready to ask our speakers (or instructors) or 

 to act in that role themselves. Regular school work lasts until 2 130 

 o'clock, and then our visitor is allowed to occupy as much or as little 

 time as he or she desires. 



" Some of the lessons given by the trustees have been on splicing 

 rope, the eye splice, knots and hitches, seed-planting, pruning, and grafting. 

 ' From others I shall mention a most excellent talk on ' Making the 

 Most of Life,' by the Catholic priest of an adjoining district. Our 

 Methodist pastor of this village, who is intensely interested in boys and 

 girls and is a fine singer, gave us a lecture on ' Music ' and then sang 

 with them, greatly to their delight. 



" We are greatly indebted to a veteran of the Civil War, who gave 

 three years of faithful service and was in sixteen battles, for ' A Personal 

 Knowledge of the Great Conflict,' which will be most helpful in clinching 

 facts about Gettysburg, the Battle of the Wilderness, Lee's surrender, 

 and other events. A trained nurse pleasantly told the children of ' First 

 Aid to the Injured.' We have a lot more of good things in contem- 

 plation, but I have enumerated a sufficient number to give an idea of 

 what we have been doing. 



" I am convinced that no teacher, no matter how capable and intelli- 

 gent he be. could have impressed these boys and girls so deeply as have 

 these outsiders, and I am quite sure that among the recollections of school 

 life of 1912-1913 they will hold these Friday afternoon innovations most 

 dear." 



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