Rural School Exhibit of Oregon EDUCATIONAL PALACE PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION 1913 Issued by J. A. CHURCHILL, Superintendent of Public Instruction ALTHOUGH a large number of most interesting educa- tional problems are being worked out in the schools of Oregon, I decided, when appointed to prepare the educa- tional exhibit for Oregon to show in the Educational Palace only one phase of our work. For this I chose with the approval of the Commission that which is receiving the most attention among educators today; namely, the advancement of the rural schools. For the many who have said that this exhibit was helpful to them in their work, and who have asked for copies of the charts shown, this little pamphlet is published. E. F. Carleton, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction. state phintine department Salem. Oregon The Rural School Exhibit of Oregon STANDARD RURAL SCHOOLS INDUSTRIAL CLUBS PLAYGROUNDS ^y^y^. Oj-frcc «t- 5vvl^v^VcA/>olt/w-l o^|.«^l^c ^^sTn/,cTi'. COMMISSIONERS FOR OREGON R. A. BOOTH, Eugene O. M. CLARK, Portland C. L. HAWLEY, McCoy JOHN F. LOGAN, Portland W. L. THOMPSON, Pendleton /V/f/f 'I'lClt D, Of Dr JV 20 U ? I J Page Three 1S^ ««3* ^^ OREGON PRESENTS ITS RURAL SCHOOL SYSTEM STANDARD SCHOOLS, CLUB WORK, PLAYGROUNDS In the Educational Palace the State of Oregon presents three features of its rural school system : the standard school plan, the boys' and girls' club work, and the playground. The standard school plan after being thoroughly tested by several counties in Oregon was adopted by the State Department of Education for the State as a whole. It is primarily an appeal to the pride of the people in each rural school district to bring their school up to a higher grade of efficiency. Through the appeal better school plants have been established, thousands of dollars have been spent in improving the school buildings, making them cheerful, wholesome, and sani- tary; the playgrounds have been enlarged and properly equipped. In doing this as in all great undertakings there have been certain by-products. Meetings called for the purpose of discussing plans for making the school standard have proved so interesting that they have been continued and have developed into community meetings, which are held at regular intervals throughout the year. Increased interest in general school conditions has taught the people the necessity of having an efficient teacher, one especially trained for rural work. Salaries have been increased and this has made it possible for the State Normal School to offer a special course for rural teachers. It is believed in Oregon that when salaries exceeding those received by city teachers are paid in the rural districts, there will be no difficulty in securing highly-trained teachers for this work, and that only in this way can the rural school do the work it should be doing. Paye Four a«- -fl«3*- Pafie Five RURAL SCHOOLS MUST MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS STANDARDIZATION OF RURAL SCHOOLS Following are copies of the charts used in the educational exhibit to explain and to attract attention to the standard school plan. These are supplemented by pamphlets which explain the plan more in detail. A STANDARD SCHOOL — STATE OF OREGON Flag — Must be flying, weather permitting. Schoolhouse — Properly lighted. Equipment — Teacher's desk and chair; desks for pupils properly adapted and placed; suitable black- boards; window shades in good condition. Heating and Ventilating — Jacketed stove properly situated, minimum requirement; window boards or some other approved method of ventilating. Standard Picture — One new one, unless three are already in the room, framed. Grounds — To be clean, free from paper. At least three features of play apparatus. Walks, if necessary. Sanitation — Pure drinking water, either drinking fountain or covered tank and individual drinking cups; individual, family or paper towels. Outbuildings — At least two good ones, to be sani- tary at all times and free from marks. Rooms — Attractive at all times. Teacher — Must maintain good order at all times; supervise the playground ; have her work well pre- pared; follow State course of study; take at least one educational journal; have program posted in room; keep register in good condition; be neat in attire. Library — Good selection of books from State list; case for the books. Books kept upright in good con- dition and recorded according to rules specified by Oregon State Library and required by law. Attendance — Average 9 2 per cent for the year, and not to exceed two per cent In tardiness for year. Length of Term — Not less than eight months of school each year. Page Six »&- -*cat&- Page Seven STANDARD SCHOOLS HAVE LIBRARIES CHART 2 — STANDARD SCHOOLS IN OREGON Plan begun in Polk County in 1910. Today, pure drinking water, modern school build- ings and sanitary toilets in every rural district in the county. Two years later five counties adopted similar plan. In 1913 more than half the counties working under the standard school plan. Adopted by the State Board of Education for the entire State in 1914. CHART 3 — A STANDARD SCHOOL IN OREGON The Standard Plan: Arouses local pride; Keeps a flag flying; Provides playgrounds; Causes proper lighting, heating, and venti- lating. CHART 4 — SCHOOL RALLIES Photo of Rural Community in Jackson County. Typical — Common in all rural districts. Some of the topics discussed: School gardens; School luncheons; Industrial contests; Cooperation of school and home; Sanitation in school and home. CHART -LIBRARIES Every rural district has a good reference library. A library tax is levied each year, and the new books are chosen from a list [irepared by the State I^ibrarian. The books are purchased and distributed each year on a date fixed by law. The school library law of Oregon is the most effective in the Union. CHART 6 — STATE LIBRARY -TO 7 stations supplied with traveling libraries. Books purchased for 2,300 school districts each year. Club libraries furnished for: Rural Sujiervisors, County Agricultural Agents, Rural Teachers, Debating Societies. CHART 7 — READING CIRCLE COURSE Every teacher in Oregon must read at least one professional work each year before registering her certificate. University of Oregon offers free courses through Extension Department. List for 1914-191.5 — Charters: Teaching the com- mon branches. Chubb: The teaching of English in the elementary and secondary school. Foght: The American rural school; its characteristics, its future and its problems. McMurry: Elementary school stand- ards. O'Shea: Everyday problems in teaching. Parker: History of modern elementary education. Puffer: Vo- cational guidance. Strayer: A brief course in the teaching process. Weeks: Education of tomorrow. Page Eight a«- -*«!I5«- Pagp Nine COMMUNITY MEETINGS ARE HELD IN RURAL DISTRICTS The work of organizing standard rural schools has made it necessary to call at least two community meetings in each district, one to arouse the public interest so as to have a standard school and one to celebrate the standardization of the school. At these meetings it is often quite possible to convince the people of the value of having a social and business meeting at regular intervals. In this way it has come about that in many of the rural districts throughout Oregon, the schoolhouse is used as a civic center. In fact, the Legislature of 1915 passed a law authoriz- ing such use of the schoolhouses. The office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction issues a bulletin for the govern- ment of such meetings giving a list of suggested topics for discussion. The State Library furnishes material for those who are to lead in the discussions. Among these topics are: I. Schools as Social Centers. Boys' and girls' entertainments. Social life of fathers and mothers. Can we cooperate with granges and other societies? Discussion of political and social questions. II. Physical Welfare of Child. Cheerfulness of mind. Cleanliness of body and neatness of dress. Care of teeth. Kind of food necessary for growing children. III. Literature for Children. Mother Goose. Value of fairy-tales. Newspapers and funny pictures. Children's classics. Reading aloud in the home. IV. Cooperation of Home and School. In forming ideals of life. In discipline. Practical problems. (See i^). 9 and 10, Uni- versity of Oregon Topics for Parent- Teacher Association.) V. Sanitation in School and Home. Cleanliness as preventative of disease. Clean schoolhouse and grounds. Pure food and clean milk. Fighting the house-fly. Out-buildings and their care. VI. School Lunches. What is necessary for the paper sack? (See Bulletin published by Oregon Agricultural College, sent free upon request. ) Is hot soup practical for rural schools? VII. Industrial Clubs and Contests for Oregon Boys and Girls. Page Ten Paye Eleven INDUSTRIAL CLUBS OWE SUCCESS TO COOPERATION BOYS' AND GIRLS' INDUSTRIAL CLUBS The second feature shown in the Oregon Rural School Exhibit is that of the boys' and girls' industrial club work. The industrial club work of the boys and girls of Oregon has been most suc- cessful principally on account of the manner in which the work was first organized. The Superin- tendent of Public Instruction receives annually a special appropriation of six thousand dollars for the promotion and encouragement of this work. Two assistants are employed who spend all of their time in field work, organizing clubs, holding community meetings and acting as judges in local industrial fairs. Each assistant has a stereopticon and a complete set of slides which illus- trates what is being done in various parts of the State. Cooperating with the State Department of Education, the Oregon Agricultural College pre- pares for each project a number of bulletins. As soon as a club is formed the names enrolled are sent to the Extension Department of the College, so that the proper bulletins may be mailed to the club members. For example, all members of the potato-growing clubs received the following bulletins : 1. Potato Sections and Potato Soils. 5. Cultivation and Care of Growing Crop. 2. Potato Pests and Diseases. 6. Harvesting; Hill; Selection of Seed. 3. Varieties of Potatoes; Selection of Seed. 7. Selection of Exhibition Tubers; Potato Judging. 4. Preparation of Seed Bed and Methods of Planting. The United States Department of Agriculture is the third cooperating agent in this work. The department assists in planning the work, sends a representative at least once a year to speak at public meetings held throughout the State ; and through the franking privilege, makes it possible to mail the bulletins to the boys and girls. When one stops to consider that there are now more than 12,000 children enrolled in these clubs in Oregon, one can realize how important it is to have the assistance of the Federal Government. On the other hand, the government is more than repaid by the interest aroused in scientific farming, and the actual increase in a higher grade of products. Page Ttcelve 3*- -*C^^&- Paye Thirteen 3« FIFTY BOYS SECURE SEED CORN FROM STATE PRIZE WINNER Claus Charley of Jackson County, Oregon, won the State prize last year on his corn. This year fifty boys throughout his county secured seed corn from him and have each from one-eighth to one-quarter of an acre of corn, which at the present time promises an abundant yield. The boy sold also enough of the seed corn to the farmers of his community to enable him to pay all of his expenses for a year in high school. Similar stories could be told of very many boys and girls who have undertaken some project in the club work. They have not only been successful themselves, but they have inspired others so that their influence has been felt throughout their county; in some instances throughout the entire State. Following are copies of the charts used in the educational exhibit to e.xplain and to attract atten- tion to the boys' and girls' industrial club work. These also are supplemented by pamphlets which give the plan more in detail: CHART 1 — ORGANIZATION tion and Irrigation. 6. Harvesting and Marketing. 7. Judging Vegetables; Exhibits. The State Superintendent sees to the organization. The Agricultural College prepares the bulletins. The CHART 3 — CORN GROWING United States Department of Agriculture outlines the ^^^^ contestant must: Prepare the ground; select general iilan, and assists in the work. The county j^j^ g^g^ p^rn; plant, cultivate and harvest one-eighth superintendents and the rural supervisors with the ^j- ^^ acre assistance of the field workers from the State Educa- ^he awards are based on the following score: tional Department do the tield work. Exhibit, best 10 ears of contestant's own selection....2.5 CHART 2— VEGETABLE GARDENING ^est hill of corn, one to three plants 25 Judging corn at contest 10 Each contestant must keep a complete and accurate Crop record 40 account of the cost of labor, seed, fertilizer, rent or niA i.v>t a RTrQirrTcj tm iqh other charges connected with his garden. CHAKl 4— Kh-bLLlb IN 1314 The children receive bulletins: 1. Garden Plan- 12,000 boys and girls doing club work, ning. 2. Hot Beds and Cold Frames. 3. Preparation of 110 local fairs in Oregon for boys and girls. Seed Bed. 4. Planting and Transplanting. 5. Cultiva- The best exhibitors at the Oregon State Fair. Page Fottrteen ^H m ^H ^^^^H| ^^^B ■1 ^1 ^ KEEPING THE . DAIRY HERD RECORD IN THE IH ^H i|gi|M ^' ...x'fl ^H H| mn RURAL SCHOOLS OF OREGON | ^H H DAIRYIHG 1 H 1 is tauoht in the ^^| RitTcil Schools of Ore^ >u ^^H 1 ^H ^H ■ \6\ne of pioduris .J'isw.soO. ^^H ■.' /tr\f(/K'