108 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



(i 896-1900) been deputy superintendent of pub- 

 lic instruction of Michigan, was elected county- 

 school commissioner of Oceana County. Mr. 

 McClure is a man of great enthusiasm and 

 made a most successful commissioner. He con- 

 ceived the idea that this union of teachers and 

 patrons could be made of the greatest value, 

 in stimulating both teachers and farmers to re- 

 newed interest in the real welfare of the children 

 as well as a means of securing needed reforms. 

 His first effort was to prepare a list of books 

 suitable for pupils in all grades of the rural 

 schools. He also prepared a rural lecture- 

 course, as well as a plan for securing libraries 

 for the schools. All these propositions were 

 adopted by a union meeting of teachers and 

 farmers. His next step was to unite the interests 

 of eastern Oceana County and western Newaygo 

 County (Newaygo lying directly east of Oceana), 

 and in 1893 there was organized the "Oceana 

 and Newaygo Counties Joint Grangers and 

 Teachers' Association/ ' the word " Granger' ' 

 being inserted because of the activity of the 

 Grange in support of the movement. Mr. Mc- 

 Clure has pardonable pride in this effort of his, 

 and his own words will best describe the develop- 

 ment of the movement: 



