298 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Secretary read the report of the superintendent of the school 

 exhibits department as follows: 

 To the State Board of Agriculture: 



Gentlemen: The school exhibits department has shown a wonderful 

 growth since its organization. The effects of this exhibit, as a stimulus 

 to better work and right direction in public education, is very evident 

 in M-any parts of the state where schools have participated one or more 

 years by making an exhibit. 



While comparatively small percentage of Iowa's 28,000 school teachers 

 can be present at the state fair, a great number of leaders in education 

 are present for one or more days, either in connection with the care of 

 exhibits from their schools, or as individuals interested in seeing and 

 knowing more of the work represented in the educational exhibits and 

 other departments of the state fair. 



A surprisingly large number of teachers olDtain permission for at least 

 a day off from their regular duties and visit the educational exhibit. 

 The number of school pupils who actually file through the aisles, observing 

 their own work and that of other school children, mounted and displayed 

 in an attractive way, is very large in the aggregate during the session of 

 the fair. 



The information these people receive from observing good school work 

 and the inspiration which comes to them from a proper recognition of 

 such work has an influence reaching back into the home school district, 

 which is most productive of good in supplementing the efforts of teachers 

 and school administrators to direct school activities in the right way. 



The expressed appreciation of school patrons who visit the exhibit and 

 the attitude of those interested in public school education generally is a 

 sufficient recognition of the value of the school department exhibit, and 

 provides a very strong reason for increasing its effectiveness. The work 

 of building up a sentiment favorable to this exhibit among teachers, super- 

 intendents and others who contribute to its success, has been well done, 

 and we are now ready for a further development, which will mean much 

 to the state of Iowa in the way of giving direction and encouragement to 

 public school work. 



From my experience with the education exhibit since its origin, and 

 from mj'- observations of what can be done along this line, I am pleased 

 to submit the following recommendations relative to this department for 

 the ensuing year: 



MORE EXHIBIT SPACE NEEDED. 



1. The crowded condition of the exhibit last year and the demand for 

 space was such that it appears that one of two policies would be advisable 

 for next year. 



(a) To inerease the amount of exhibit space sufficiently to properly 

 display the exhibits which will be offered, or, 



(b) To limit the size, amount and character of exhibits which will be 

 accepted. 



The educational exhibit could well occupy a space at least four or five 

 times as l^rge as that occupied la.st year. I believe that the development 



