CIVIC IMPROVEMENT 247 



and where they will not encroach upon the children's playgrounds. 

 Let the playgrounds be supplied when possible with swings, see- 

 saws, horizontal bars, vaulting poles, ball grounds, and everything 

 necessary for the comfort and enjoyment of the children. 



Study and criticise the design given here and then make a 

 model plan of your own. 



When possible, it will be found a good plan to have the children 

 visit neighboring schools and note the arrangement of the grounds. 

 Encourage them to make suggestions for improving upon the 

 arrangement, whatever it may be. Some attention should also be 

 given to the schoolhouse and its general plan. 



Civic IMPROVEMENT CLUB 



It should be the business of this club to devise ways and means 

 for the improvement of country schools, churches, roadsides, 

 homes, and country life in general. It should be alive to every 

 social and aesthetic interest of the community and must be active 

 in useful ways if it is to be successful. The membership of the 

 club need not be restricted to any particular class. Generally it 

 will fall to the lot of the school-teacher to assume leadership 

 in this matter, and to make the original call for the organization 

 of the club. The first meeting may be held in the schoolhouse, 

 and at this meeting let the club organize by electing a presi- 

 dent, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. A constitution 

 should be drawn up by a special committee appointed for that 

 purpose and should be adopted either at the first meeting or at 

 a special meeting called subsequently for that purpose. The 

 Civic Improvement Club may be made a very potent factor for 

 the teacher's success in every community where one is organized 

 and properly managed. 



BOYS' AND GIRLS' CONTEST CLUBS 



In every district there should be a local boys' club organized 

 to further agricultural knowledge, and contests calculated to 

 stimulate interest in agricultural work should be arranged. In 

 Nebraska, Oklahoma, Illinois, and several other States much 

 interest has been aroused by the corn contests and the prizes 



