FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 611 



chosen from the township at large by the voters thereof at the annual meet- 

 ing, on the second Monday in March. We should so arrange that only one 

 of the three be elected each year. After such a plan had been adopted 

 would it not be wise to provide also that the directors so chosen should re- 

 ceive, say, two dollars per day for three days in the year, the necessary an- 

 nual meetings and one day which should be arranged for all of the directors 

 of the county to meet in conference with the county superintendent. 



Then we have this problem: What about our nine schoolhouses, some 

 that even now serve no purpose save they might occasionally break the wind 

 off a stray cow that had sought shelter behind it. We have others where 

 teachers who have been to our State normal school, teachers of promise if 

 we could only give them a chance, and others where teachers of experience 

 are trying to serve the district, the State and the Natioij, training from two to 

 six pupils. Is it any wonder that teachers are discouraged and seek other 

 fields of labor? Is it any wonder that children are dissatisfied and do not 

 care to go to school? Is it any wonder that patrons complain of progress 

 made, when there is so little encouragement for the teacher and little or no 

 iTspiration for the pupil. Any teacher worthy the name can do more 

 effectual work for each individual pupil in a school of twenty-five than in a 

 school of five. 



Now we are up against the weighty proposition of agreeing on some plan 

 whereby we can have fewer schools with more pupils. We should have one 

 high school in each township where all advanced pupils could be together 

 and perhaps some older ones not so far advanced. This school so located as 

 to best serve all the interests of the township. This high school should be 

 in charge of a very competent teacher, one whose services would at the least 

 be worth $70 per month. 



If we are satisfied with present school property we could have five other 

 teachers, three of whom we could pay $50, and two $40, with little or no 

 increase of tax for teachers' fund. 



The teacher of the high school could have teachers' meeting and thereby 

 an interest in all the schools of the township, and should in many cases become 

 a resident of the township with a home near the high school, taking interest 

 in the social and intellectual advancement of the township. Our township high 

 schools should aim to prepare the pupils to enter some of the higher institu- 

 tions of learning, more especially our agricultural college. 



With our high school interested in the advancement of the agricultural 

 classes and working in harmony with our State Agricultural College, getting 

 our boys and girls to feel, as they rightly should, that there is no field opens 

 to them the opportunity for usefulness and the chance to establish them- 

 selves m comfortable homes with pleasant surroundings as does the rural 

 districts. 



It is high time we were getting away from the idea that there is naught 

 else but drudgery on the farm . 



It is time we were instilling into every country boy and girl the fact that 

 here is a grand opportunity. 



Fellow farmers, it is within our power to fill all of the rural districts of 

 fair Iowa with pleasant and comfortable homes, wherein shall dwell a con- 

 tented and happy people. And we can make no better start than to give 

 every country boy and girl the chance for a high school education under the 



