300 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE RURAL SCHOOL. 



(Mrs. Marie T. Harvey, Kirksville, Mo.) 



Because of the comprehensive discussion of 

 country life problems by Superintendent Kern, and 

 the character of the program tliat follows this num- 

 ber, I have determined to attack my subject quite 

 differently from that planned previous to my com- 

 ing here. 



Rather will it be my purpose to suggest ways 



that I believe practicable by which the women of 



Missouri may help our country youth noiv in our 



homes and schools by bringing about a more rapid 



Mrs. Harvey. evolution of the typical school shack into the 



twentieth century type of consolidated school, the only solution for 



the problem of education in the country community. 



When I say ' ' The Women of Missouri, ' ' I am not thinking of farm- 

 ers ' wives only; I mean all women — the club woman, the social worker, 

 the mission worker, the mother in town and country — the woman who 

 believes in the divine right of every child to make the most of himself, 

 and who believes it is the duty of the State and the community to give 

 him this chance by providing adequate means for the education of the 

 whole child. I shall refer to conditions and problems, therefore, in a 

 somewhat disorganized way, and emphasize these for the sole purpose 

 of showing a logical basis for the closing appeal. 



* * # 



What we are about to say is with full knowledge of the facts that 

 there are most excellent country schools in all parts of Missouri, coun- 

 try schools that are better than many graded schools; that some of our 

 best teachers labor from choice in the country ; and that the young teach- 

 er with her first school in a remote district often does work of the 

 highest merit. That this is true only proves what may be done in all 

 country schools in general. 



That there is a pitiful and unnecessary waste of child life in the 

 country will not be difficult to prove; that we cannot logically offer a 

 remedy for a condition not generally understood, and that we cannot 

 afford to be sensitive about facing facts so long as we rank seventh in 

 population and twenty-ninth in education, I feel quite certain you will 

 agree. I am constrained to remark in passing that Missouri's rank in 

 population does not give me the concern felt in some quarters regarding 



