STATE NORMAL SCHOOLS 55 



a part of this work, and is really the only part that takes into 

 consideration the life of the community in which these students 

 are to teach. These short courses are generally regarded by 

 normal-school teachers as unsatisfactory, both on account of the 

 shortness of the time given and the irregular preparation of the 

 students themselves. Although the situation is recognized as a 

 difficult one very little has been done to improve it. There are 

 several schools, however, that have undertaken to give their 

 students of this class some real preparation for this work as 

 teachers. Some have arranged with local public-school authori- 

 ties for a one-room rural school to be used as an observation or 

 practice school. Others have built or have control of a one-room 

 schoolhouse and have endeavored to make it a model of its kind 

 so as to show concretely the possibilities of a rural school. For 

 example, the Kirksville (Mo.) State Normal School has a well- 

 appointed single-room schoolhouse. It has been 



designed and constructed to show that a rural school anywhere can have all 

 the conveniences and comforts offered in any city building. The children 

 are transported in covered vehicles to and from school. It is a model 

 school so far as it can possibly be made such. It is to exemplify the best 

 things which a school board and a good teacher with up-to-date facilities 

 can do in and for a rural school. 



Special provision is made for instruction in manual training, 

 elementary agriculture, and home economics. 2 



Two somewhat similar plans for rural education should be 

 mentioned in this connection. Both of these have the larger 

 possibilities of teaching in rural communities in view. One is a 

 course of two years called "rural arts" given by the Harris- 

 burg (Va.) Normal and Industrial School for Women. The 

 course requires high-school graduation for admission. The 

 object is to 



give its students a training of mind, heart, and hand which will fit them 

 for efficient service in rural schools, and for intelligent and appreciative 

 participation in the life of rural communities. It will not attempt to train 

 farmers; it cannot be expected to turn out agricultural experts. Its work 



'Bulletin First District Normal School, Kirksville, Mo., DC, No. i (1909), 9-16. 



