30-1 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Because Superintendent Kern has shown you the picture of the 

 John Swaney Consolidated school of Putnam county, Illinois, "a coun- 

 try school beside a country road where a right balance of educational 

 values is being maintained," I urge you to get and read the report of 

 the "Committee on Industrial Education in Schools for Rural Com- 

 munities"*** as suggestive of what can be worked out in Missouri — 

 when once the possibilities and obligations of the country school have 

 taken hold of us; when once we realize that the real solution of the 

 problem in this country (for after all, the school problem is but a phase 

 of the country problem), lies in co-operation; the co-operation of eco- 

 nomic, social and educational forces with the school as the center. 



Since Professor Emberson has discussed fully the university's im- 

 portant work in this field, I shall merely add that all the State's edu- 

 cational institutions are giving strong emphasis to education for coun- 

 try life offering courses in subject matter and theory that will fit 

 teachers for good services in such districts. , 



The State Normal School at Kirksville has rendered a distinct ser- 

 vice in demonstrating that transportation over dirt roads kept in fair 

 shape by dragging, is practicable in North Missouri, at least. Twenty 

 children are brought to the Model Rural School on the campus by a 

 wagon whose driver, himself a patron of the school, lives five miles from 

 the school. The w^agon runs on schedule time, picks up the children at 

 the various stations enroute, and delivers them regularly, punctually, 

 comfortably and happy for their daily work; this it has done for four 

 years. 



This point is brought out because it is believed by many that trans- 

 portation is impracticable, and because our present ' ' Consolidated 

 School Law" is useless, lacking provision for the transportation of chil- 

 dren at public expense, which provision we hope will be made by the 

 present session of the General Assembly. 



In behalf of the children now in our homes and schools, I believe 

 firmly in stimulating the evolution of our country schools by vigorous 

 organization, expert leadership and wise legislation. One of the chief 

 functions of legislation is to create conditions favorable to legislation, 

 Eor the sake of the children, we women of Missouri need to concern 

 ourselves more seriously with law-making. The sixtieth report of the 

 State Superintendent of Schools is as interesting for the report of edu- 

 cational bills that failed to pass as for those that become laws. Will 

 you not drop a card for a copy and examine for yourselves? 



Bills provide State aid for the establishment of high schools that de- 



***Second Report on Industrial Education in Rural Scliools, Irwin Shepard, 

 Winona, Minn. 



