Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 309 



offered to give $25. Two or three in that district, when they paid 

 their taxes, complained that their school tax was not high enough. 

 This hearty co-operation came through the pupils because they had 

 a fine teacher, a good school. We have other districts, however, 

 that vote the limit of 65 cents or more and where we have splendid 

 co-operation. 



The county superintendent may use the county papers to reach 

 the patrons and arouse interest. The teachers may have entertain- 

 ments, get the patrons together at the schoolhouse and create 

 interest. We hold about fifteen rural graduating exercises in the 

 county each spring. These are well attended and interest is created 

 by the program and by the talk of the county superintendent. Dur- 

 ing the year in connection with my visitation I hold night meet- 

 ings all over the county at the schoolhouses, churches and halls. I 

 use a stereopticon and illustrate and talk school improvement, edu- 

 cation, etc. The lantern and pictures insure a good attendance and 

 make more impressive that in which I wish to interest them. A few 

 times the school board met immediately at the close of the meeting 

 (having me to meet with them) and proceeded to provide for the 

 improvements, I suggested in my talk. 



I can not go into detail in discussing this night work, but I have 

 secured some very gratifying results in the way of better interest 

 and co-operation. This, however, is hard work; to work all day 

 visiting schools and then work several hours at night consumes 

 energy very fast, but it is worth while. It is an opportunity of 

 doing great good, inspiring the boys and girls and arousing interest 

 among the patrons. Sometimes the strain of the work is almost too 

 great and I nearly give up, but when I think of what a great oppor- 

 tunity it affords, I feel like I must keep on and make use of it. 

 The problem of getting in touch with the patrons is partly solved by 

 the night meeting, but the territory is too great and meetings can 

 not be held often enough, besides it works a man to death. To suc- 

 ceed with this work requires much energy, great faith, abundant 

 love and enthusiasm. 



Now, I have been rather general in my discussion and have 

 not gone much into detail or given many specific examples of co- 

 operation secured through the means suggested ; but time wt)uld 

 not permit me to do so. Do not understand that the methods men- 

 tioned never fail, or that a revolution can be brought about in a 

 short time. I have many times been greatly discouraged because 

 I failed to get the response or co-operation I felt my efforts de- 

 served, while other times the response was most gratifying. 



