CHAPTER XXVI. 

 How to Improve the Rural School. 



"The hills are dearest which our childish feet 

 Have climbed the earliest, and the streams most sweet 

 Are ever those at which our young lips drank, 



Stoop'd to their waters o'er the grassy bank." 



The purpose of this chapter is to give some helpful sug- 

 gestions to teachers and pupils who desire to take part in pro- 

 moting the rural life movement in America. 



The principal requisites are a clearer vision of our duties, 

 a keener appreciation of responsibilities, a better knowledge of 

 potential forces, and an accelerated activity in the application of 

 all these for the betterment of the rural school and home. 



This important task will consist principally in bringing about 

 some of the following ends : 



1. Making the school more attractive and interesting. 



2. Equipping the school for more efficient work. 



3. Bringing school and home into closer relationship. 



4. Becoming a leader in social community life. 



5. Inspiring broader views of life and higher ideals of 

 citizenship by bringing about a better social community spirit. 



How Can This Be Done? 



There is no place in the world where there is more room 

 and greater opportunity for improvement than in the community 

 where there has been indifference and apathy in education for a 

 long period of years. 



The spirit of the community can often be judged by the 

 condition of its environments. 



Contrary to expectations, the wealth of a community does 

 not always serve as an index to the improvement of roads, schools 

 and other public institutions. 



(459) 



