262 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



To THE State Board of Agriculture, 

 Des Moines Iowa. 



Gentlemen: — I herewith respectfully submit to you my report of the 

 school exhibit at the Iowa State Fair and Exposition for the year 1909. 



In January, 1909, your board decided to establish a department of school 

 exhibits and arrange for a display of school work at the fair, no such 

 department or display having been made a part of the state fair work in 

 previous years. Upon being appointed to take charge of the work as 

 superintendent I began making plans for a premium list and for methods 

 of publicity. There having been no previous premium list it was necessary 

 to make one entirely new, which was done after an exhaustive study of all 

 procurable premium lists throughout the United States. 



These lists showed a marked difference in plans throughout the country. 

 Our premium list as finally issued contained the strongest features of the 

 best lists of the country with additional feautres not found elsewhere, but 

 believed to have significant educational value. 



The underlying principals upon which the premium lists were con- 

 structed were as follows: 



1. Schools were to be confined to the public schools of Iowa. 



2. Schools rather than individual pupils were to be exhibitors. 



3. All entries v.ere to be made by teachers, principals or superint- 

 endents. 



4. Four great classes were established, viz., rural schools, elementary 

 grades of town and city schools, high schools, and general collective 

 exhibits from counties, towns and cities. 



5. The number of premiums offered was divided almost equally among 

 these four classes, as was also the amount of money appropriated for 

 premiums. 



6. Freight charges were paid by the department on all exhibits 

 shipped to Secretary J. C. Simpson before July 1st. 



7. No entrance fee or exhibitor's tickets was required. 



8. Premiums were paid through superintendents or principals. 



9. Premiums were offered on all kinds of regular standard work 

 taught in a majority of the schools if such work were of a nature to 

 permit putting it on exhibition under our present limited facilities. 



10. Premiums were also offered upon other school work which is not 

 so generally found in schools, but which ought to be more universally 

 introduced; thus pointing the way for future progress in education. 



11. The requirements for each premium were so arranged as to reward 

 excellence in general class or school work rather than special skill in some 

 one pupil. 



12. Schools were encouraged to send other work not included in the 

 premium list as a suggestion for future improvement. 



In giving publicity to the movement county and city superintendents 

 were enlisted in the cause by means of circular letters, copies of premium 

 lists, correspondence and personal interviews. 



