in which the products of the community are exhibited and 

 prizes given, and at which a short program is usually given by 

 the children. Often a speaker from outside is secured to talk 

 on some subject of interest to the community. 



A few general suggestions will be of service to the inex- 

 perienced teacher. (1) Secure the consent of the school board 

 before attempting any public program. (2) Do not attempt 

 too much at first or have the program too long. Have the sup- 

 port of public opinion in what you are trying to do. (3) Pay 

 attention to the details. Plan everything carefully so that 

 each child is given a part, however small, and so that there is 

 no confusion. (4) Have a definite purpose in mind. Make 

 the program of real benefit to the children by seeing to it that 

 they speak and sing in the best possible manner. Choose 

 songs and recitations that are worth while, omitting trashy 

 worthless selections. (5) Introduce some of the regular work 

 of the school, but be careful that it is not tedious and that 

 what is attempted is well done. As examples of what may be 

 done, pupils may show how to test corn, explain the Babcock 

 test, tell the useful birds and explain how we may increase the 

 number, give an exercise in reading, recite poems that they 

 have studied in language, read compositions on interesting 

 subjects, etc. (6) In the choice of speakers from the outside 

 select the man or woman who has something to say which will 

 be of interest and real value to the people. Ask him to talk 

 then of the subject with which he is familiar. Get local peo- 

 ple to take part. 



State Superintendent Gary's Report on Progress. That 

 progress is being made in rural schools is shown by the report 

 of State Superintendent Gary of Wisconsin. Mr. Gary writes : 



"Great changes for the better have taken place in country 

 education in the past ten years. Hundreds of districts near- 

 ly five out of every six the state over as a matter of fact- 

 have provided ventilation by means of ventilating stoves. They 

 have put the out-buildings into decent shape ; they have added 

 supplementary readers, maps, blackboards ; they have increas- 

 ed the number of books in their libraries by 200% ; and have 

 furnished cases and card catalogues for them; they have in- 



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