■HBr 





Amid pfeasanf Murroundings, good equipmenf, rura/ children have Ag Instructor Robert Rohffing (Mt) dlteuuet a field of letpedeza 

 a chance to take part in a modern educational program. with his vocational agriculture clatt at Paxton high school- 



Instructor Thompson Shields (left) super- 

 vises BUI Horrldge In shop work, Way'ne 

 Rich ioolcs on. 



Nurse Mary Gllkerson checks welghfs of 



children periodically. Here she checks 



Jeanle Thompson. 



A farm boy, Morris Weaver, who once of- 

 fended rural school, has teeth X-rayed by 

 Morris Swan, stale technician. 



Does the Unit District WorJL? 



HERE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT PAXTON 



THE 12-grade unit district school system is being tried 

 out by the Paxton community. The unit district system 

 unites high school and grade schools as one system. 

 The 12 grades have one school board and one responsi- 

 ble administrator. 



How is it working? Do the teachers like it? Do the 

 children like it? Does it do as much for the pupil as the 

 one- room school district of yesterday? What does it cost? 

 Does the parent get a better educational system for his tax 

 dollar? 



It is too early to give a conclusive report on the Paxtoii 

 community 12-grade school system. This is only its first 

 year of operation. But it isn't hard to answer with conviction 

 some of the above questions. 



In the first place, it can be said that in general the 

 teachers are enthusiastic about the new system. They like 

 its efficiency and concern for the individual pupil. 



Do the kids like 'it? Just ask them. Shirley Carlson, 14. 

 10th grade, said she likes the new system better. "There are 

 more opportunities and I like the movies, sports, and music. 

 I am with more kids my own age." Jerry Johnson, 13, who 



By JIM THOMSON, 



Ass't tdltor, lAA Record 



spent his first six years in a one-room school, said it was 

 a lot nicer going to a consolidated school. His face lit up 

 as he explained that he had never realized he was missing 

 such things as industrial arts, field trips, music, and physical 

 education. 



Of the dozen or so farm children spoken to, none pre- 

 ferred the one-room school. The youngsters noticed mainly 

 the things they enjoyed such as vocational agriculture, foot- 

 ball, glee club, movies, and home economics. 



But other factors they did not mention may be of con- 

 siderable importance to the parent. One is the fact that 

 with consolidation a system of health records has been set 

 up which will keep tab on the child from the first through 

 the 12th grades. A full time nurse keeps the health records 

 and examines the children. Dental X-rays are also taken 

 periodically by a state technician and are checked by the 

 school nurse. She also gives each pupil eye and ear tests. 



Parents whose children are slow to speak properly also 

 are pleased that the Paxton community school has the services 

 of a trained speech correctionist. Children slow to adjust 

 themselves to association with other children receive the 



16 



L A. A. RECORD 



