n6 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



have become a factor in the campaign for bet- 

 ter rural schools. One commissioner writes : 



My aim has been to bring into very close relationship 

 teachers, patrons, and pupils. This is done, in part, 

 in the following manner: I engage, for a week's work at 

 a time, some educator of state or national reputation 

 to ride with me on my visitation of schools. Through 

 the day, schools are visited, pupils' work inspected, and 

 in the evening, a rally is held in the locality visited in 

 that day. A circuit is made during the week, and Friday 

 evening and the Saturday following a general round-up 

 is held. The results of this work have been far reach- 

 ing. Teachers, patrons, and pupils are brought into 

 close relationship and a higher standard of education 

 is developed. 



The form of organization matters little. The 

 essential idea of the "Hesperia movement" was 

 to bring together the teacher and the school pa- 

 tron on a common platform, to a common 

 meeting-place, to discuss subjects of common 

 interest. This idea must be vitalized in the 

 rural community before that progress in rural- 

 school matters which we desire shall become a 

 fact. 



It is only fair to say that administrators of 

 rural-school systems in several states are at- 

 tempting in one way or another, and have done 

 so for some years, to bring together teachers 



