TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 581 



perhaps done more than any other single influence to inspire the in- 

 terest of the people in the usefulness of the instruction given in the com- 

 mon schools. The influence of such work upon the developing ideals 

 of the proper function of the schools and their relation to the coming 

 type of country life education is v.ell shown in the prizes offered in a 

 recent western state fair: 



These prizes range from $2 to $25 for exhibits of work teaching girls 

 household service and home appreciation; of work in applied civics 

 and school f-^rvice to the community; evidence of cooperative neighbor- 

 hood work for school building and ground improvement; children's gar- 

 den work, with plans, photographs, and descriptions; arithmetic applied 

 to industrial and business affairs of the school, home, and community; 

 "field work" in geography; class record of weather observations for three 

 months or more; plan of farm (drawn, modeled, or constructed), showing 

 buildings, irrigation system, crop rotation, etc.; construction work done 

 by any pupil, showing mechanical and inventive ability, and best single 

 exhibit of courses of study, plans, etc., shov.ing ways of making school 

 instruction more valuable and connecting it more intimately and vitally 

 with community life. 



SUGGKSTIONS FOR THE OEGANIZATIOX AND WOKK OF JUNIOR AGBlCXyXTURAL CLUBS. 



There are obvious advantages in merging agricultural club work closely 

 with the interests of the public school and the home life of the pupils. 

 The county superintendent of schools is in a position to utilize such com- 

 munity interest to the greatest benefit in vitalizing and unifying the en- 

 thusiasm of teacher, pupil, and parent. He can explain the plans of work 

 to his teachers, and they in turn to pupils and parents, thus securing the 

 clear understanding and cordial co-operation of all concerned. 



There is need of a concrete object of effort in all such associated acti- 

 vity, and the local corn-growing, bread-making, or fruit-raising contest 

 furnishes such an object. This object should be varied from year to year, 

 or at least new lines of effort should be joined to it, in order to maintain 

 a live and growing interest. The organization under which the work is 

 done should be simple but definite. Responsibilities should be real and 

 clearly placed. Orderliness is essential to impartiality and harmony. But 

 the anatomy of the organization should be not conspicuous; the "average 

 boy" does not derive much enjoyment from riding a horse of pronounced 

 gothic structure, even in the cornfield. 



The year's experiment or contest should be planned carefully, definitely, 

 and early. Appropriate prizes and trophies should be provided. Reports 

 of contestants should be received at intervals during the season, on blanks 

 or suggestions previously given out. Letters of direction and encourage- 

 ment should be sent at critical times from the local headquarters. Cir- 

 culars, bulletins, and other means of instruction are to be supplied, and 

 should always include the publications of the state agricultural college, 

 the state experiment station, and the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, in reference to the subject in hand. One of the chief values in 

 this work is the training it gives in finding and using information that 



