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 



