B153-1015-2m'879!1 
BULLETIN 
OF 

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 
1915: No. 54 
SEPTEMBER 25 1915 
Study Outlines 
of 
Camey's "Country Life and the Country School" 
By 
AMANDA STOLTZFUS 
Lecturer to :aural Schoola 1n the University of Texas Department of Extension 
Prepared at the Request, and with the Cooperation of the Texas 
Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations. for 
Use by Parent-Teacher Associatiops and Others 
nesiring to Study Country Life Problems. 


Published by the University six times a month and entered as 
second-class matter at the postoffice at 
AUSTIN, TEXAS 

The benefits of education and of ueful knowledge, generally diffused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a free gov­ernment, 
Sam Houston. 
Cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy. • • • It is the only dictator that freemen acknowl­edge and the only security that free­men desire. 
Mirabeau B. Lamar. 
STUDY OUTLINES OF MABEL CARNEY'S "COUNTRY 

LIFE AND THE COUNTRY SCHOOL'''-' 
BY 
AMANDA STOLTZFUS, 
LECTURER TO RURAL SCHOOLS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TF..XAS, 
DEPARTMENT OF EXTENTION 
LESSON I, pp. 1-19, 302-328, 388-398 
'l'HE FARM PROBLEM AND THE COUNTRY LIFE MOVE­MENT 
1. 
State definiely what Miss Carney considers the real farm problem to be solved. Do you agree with this statement? Do the causes of isolation and loneliness mentioned in the text exist in your community and county? (See free Bui. No. 364, University of Texas Department of Extension, ''A Study of Rural Schools in Texas,'' by E. V. White and E. E. Davis, pp. 56-57.) 

2. 
What facts are shown in regard to farm tenantry 1 How does tentantry affect social life? What are some facts about tenantry in your own county? (See U. S. Census, 1910; also the free bulletins of The University of Texas, entitled ''Studies in Farm Tenantry in Texas,'' and ''A Study of Rural Schools in 'l'exas," pp. 114-116.) 

3. 
What advantages has the Clear Creek community over your community? What advantages has your community over the Clear Creek community 1 

4. 
What are some of the agencies for upbuilding a country lift community? Which do you regard the most important? 

5. 
Discuss the five social institutions mentioned by Professor Butterfield, giving the field of each. 

6. 
What is meant by the ''Country Life Movement?'' Com­pare the interest taken in this movement by the various sections of the country. What is your community doing? 


*"Country Life and the Country School," by Mabel Carney; pub­lished by Row, Peterson & Co., Chicago, price $1.25; 408 pp. 
BuUetin of the University of Texas 
7. 
What must be expected of the country school and the coun­try teacher in solving the rural problem? ("A Study of Rural Schools in Texas,'' pp. 69-76.) 

8. 
Make a list of books and literary selections which idealize farm living. Are any of them now in your community? (pp. 365-368.) Why not add some of these books to your school library? 

9. 
Enumerate some good books which every country teacher should have in her library. Are any of them in your teacher's library? If these books are not in your school library, how can they be secured for it? (See "Libraries for Public Schools," Bul. No. 372, University of Texas Department of Extension.) 


LESSON II, pp. 18-39, 302-328, 385i 391 
THE FARM HOME 
1. 
What is the relation of the farm home to life on the farm 1 

2. 
We often hear this expression: ''Farming is the most in­dependent and self-reliant business." Name some good and bad influences growing out of this self-sufficiency. 

3. 
Do the majority of the farm homes in this community afford the children an ideal preparation for the highest living? If not, why not? 

4. 
What can be done in this community to make more farm homes good nurseries for highest usefulness and efficiency? 

5. 
Describe the worst type, the best type, and the average farm house in your community. 

6. 
What is the chief recreation in these homes? 

7. 
What are the chief literary opportunities and the chief topics of conversation in these homes? 

8. 
What are the main causes of the present conditions in Texas homes? Which of the conditions can be changed ? How! 

9. 
How does the home cooperate with the school in educating the children in your community ? 

10. 
Have some one bring plans for a farm home and for remodeling a farm home and place these on the board and dis­cuss the subject of the farm home from the following stand­points: Cost and most suitable local material; location with re­gard to breeze, shade, beauty, outlook, drainage; exterior, har mony with its environment and within itself; interior, con· venience of arrangement, comfort, beauty. (Write the Depart­ment of Extension of the University of Texas for bulletins on the farm home.) 

11. 
Discuss the question, How can the drudgery of the farm home be reduced ? ( 1) What higher household duties does so much drudgery prevent one from doing? (2) Describe and bring to the meeting labor-saving devices for reJucing household drudgery (Visit a farm home with waterworks, central heating and lighting plants, washing machines, etc., if such is near). 


(3) See what the proper plan of the house and yard might do. 
Bulletin of the University of Texas 
(4) See what better management could accomplish; plan a daily and weekly program for a country housewife. (5) Discuss com­munity cooperation. What might be done here along the fol­lowing, or any other, lines: community creamery, egg market­ing, laundry, baking, canning, preserving? 
12. What part of the difficulties of the farm woman is due to lack of an education suited to her needs1 In what lines does the farm woman need education most? Are the future farm women getting this in the school? How can the present farm women and the future farm women get this needed edu­cation? 
LESSON III, p!J. 133-189, 246, 251 
THE AIM A.ND NEED OF THE RURAL SCHOOL: CON­SOI.JIDATION 
1. 
What two functions has the rural school? What advan­tages has the school for rural institutional leadership ? 

2. 
Does your school serve these two functions well? If not, see if you can find out why, and then find out how to remedy the trouble. 

3. 
What are the defects of the country school, according to Miss Carney? Compare your own school and see if it has these defects. Does it have others 1 

4. 
·what is the fundamental need? Is this a need in Texas? 

5. 
Give a brief account of the origin and history of consoli­dation in America and in Texas. (On all points concerning con­solidation of schools, consult the free bulletin No. 17 on "c"on­solidation of Rural Schools,'' published by the State Depart­ment of Education, Austin, Texas, and also ' ' A Study of Rural Schools in Texas,'' pp. 26-36.) 

6. 
What are the advantages of consolidation? ("A Study of Rural Schools in Texas," pp. 28-29.) 

7. 
What are the main obstacles to consolidation in Texas? ("A Study of Rural Schools in Texas," pp. 34-35, 116-122.) 

8. 
Describe the John Swaney consolidated school, and see 


why such a school can not be established in your community. 
NOTE.-If time for a ninth meeting could be found, it should be devoted to Chapter XII on "Country School Supervision." Texas needs badly a better method of electing county superintendents and a better county organization for· her schools. Be sure to send to the State Department of Education, Austin, Texas, and secure a copy of "The Recommendations of the State Superintendent of Public In­struction to the Governor and Thirty-fourth Legislature," by Super­intendent W. F. Doughty. A law that would have greatly improved these matters came near passing the last legislature, but failed by a slight majority in the House. 
LESSON IV, pp. 206-228, 340-350, 363-364, 394-395 
THE SCHOOL BUILDING AND GROUNDS 
1. 
What are the requirements of the Texas State School Building Law with regard to lighting, heating, heat regulation, ventilation, sanitation, and safety? Compare point by point and see what your school lacks. (Write to the State Depart­ment of Education, Austin, Texas, for a free copy of the law, with explanations and interpretations.) 

2. 
Draw a plan for remodeling your school or for a new one in its place; put this on the board and discuss it. (Write to The University of Texas, Extension Department, for free bulle­tins giving ''Plans for Model Rural Schools'' and ''Plans for Remodeling and Adding to Old Schools," and for the "Im­provement of School and Home Grounds.'' 

3. 
What did Dr. Ellis find with regard to the effects upon health of over-heating in the Austin schools? Test your school and see if it is any better. What has been shown with regard to the effect of over-heating on the capacity to study? At this rate, how many are made sick in your school and how many of the dollars spent on running the school are wasted each winter by not having proper temperature regulation? 

4. 
·what is the effect of lack of ventilation? How often must the air be changed in your schoolroom to be kept fresh? How can that be done in cold weather? Is it done in your school? If not, why not. 

5. 
Why should practically all the light in a school come from the left? In how far does your school conform to the law? How can the bad lighting be remedied in your school? 

6. 
What diseases are spread by the open privy f D.escribe two types of sanitary privies. If you do not have one at school, devise a plan for securing one. (Write to the U. S. Public Health Bureau, Washington, D. C., for bulletin No. 37, "The Sanitary Privy," and to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., for Farmers' Bulletin No. 463, "The Sani­tary Privy." 

7. 
How do the color of the walls, the decoration, furniture, 


Study Outlines Carney's Country Life and Country School 9 
arrangement and care of the school house and grounds affect the lives of the children? (Write to the University of Texas, Extension Department, for sample colors for walls and free bulletin on ''Improvement of Home and School Grounds.'') 
8. 
What are the requirements of a correct seat for a child1 What is the harm in badly fitting seats and desks? How do those in your school fit~ 

9. 
What is the danger in the feather duster and ordinary broom when used in school or home? How may dusting and sweeping be best done in the schoolhouse ? 

10. 
Why is attention to cleanliness and sanitation more necessary in school even than it is in a home? About how many times greater are the dangers of contagion and infection in ,YOUr school than in the home? 

11. 
Why do children need play? What are the physical advantages? What intellectual gains come from it? What social and moral gains? 

12. 
What does your school playground need and how can you get what is needed? (Write to the University of Texas, Department of Extension, for free bulletin on "Play, Play­ground Equipment, and Athletics.") 


LESSON V, pp. 188-204, 229-246, 372-373, 374-375, 392, 395-397 
1. 
Is your teacher giving the kind of community leadership of which Miss Carney speaks? If not, whose fault is it? How can it be remedied Y 

2. 
Can a teacher who does not reside in the community all the year exercise much leadership? What would be necessary in order to have a teacher who was a real and helpful leader in your community life Y 

3. 
In what ways have some schools added to the social life of their communities1 Is there any need for such social life in your community1 If so, which of the things discussed in the book could you best begin with? 

4. 
How could your school serve the community better: through its library and collection of farmers' bulletins; through agricultural work, such as seed testing, milk testing, raising hotbed plants, keeping experiment plats; furnishing place of meeting for farmers' institutes, public lectures, demon­strations, debating clubs, social entertainment, schoolhouse meetings, community picnics~ (Write to the University of Texas, Department of Extension, for free bulletin on '' School­house Meetings.'' 

5. 
What work can a Parent-teacher Club carry out here most advantageously for the schooH ("A Study of Rural Schools in Texas,'' p. 56.) 

6. 
Would '"Vitalizing and Enriching the Country School Course of Study'' as described by Miss Carney bring the school into closer contact with country life and make it m~re service­able to the community1 Would anything be lost if t11is were done 1 Has your school done this? 


LESSON VI, pp. 85-108, 384-386, 392-393 

FARMERS' INSTITUTES, FARM DEMONSTRATION 
WORK, AND BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUBS 

1. 
Give the story of the origin and history of the farmers' institute. 

2. 
How does the farmers' institute promote the progress of the community ? 

3. 
Is there a farmers' institute in your community? (Write to Hon. Fred Davis, Commissioner of Agriculture, Austin, Texas, about the organization and the work of Farmers' Insti­tutes in Texas.) 

4. 
Give the story of the origin of the farm demonstration work and of what it has done and of what it is now doing. 

5. 
Is there a county demonstrator, and a canning club agent in your county1 Why not? How can you secure these helpful workers for your community? (Write to the Director of Extension Service, A. & M. College, College Station, Texas, for information about farm demonstration work, corn clubs, can­ning clubs, and the Smith-Lever Extension Service to farmers.) 

6. 
Has your community a canning club 1 a corn club ? a beef club? a hog club1 If not, why not1 

7. 
In what way do you think the activities would benefit the children of your community? 

8. 
How can you get boys' and girls' club work established in your district? 

9. 
If.you have such work organized, how can you help it on 7 


LESSON VII, pp. 108-133, 386, 393-3!}4 
RO:ADS AND THE RO:AD PROBLEM 
1. 
In what way does the advancement of your community depend on good roads 7 How are schools and churches related to good roads? (''A Study of Rural Schools in Texas," pp. 52-54, 111-112, 120-122.) 

2. 
What is the financial loss in the United States on account of bad roads? 

3. 
Give some local activities that suffer on account of bad roads. Figure up the cost of bad roads in your eounty. 

4. 
Describe good road systems of other countries. 

5. 
What is the work of the National Office of Public Roads at Washington, D. C.? (Send for its literature for y-Olil.r library, and also write to The Texas Good Roads Association, San Antonio, Texas.) 

6. 
What is a sound and practfoal basis for road administra­tion? 

7. 
Discuss our system of American highways. 

8. 
Make some suggestions for improving the highway sys­tem in your community What materials for building good roads are available in your community 7 

9. 
Discuss means of arousing an increased interest in good roads and obtaining cooperation in securing them. 

10. 
How would it be possible to beautify the public roads and home driveways? 


LESSON VIII, pp. 39-72, 385, 388-392 
THE COUNTRY CHURCH 
1. 
What is the present status of the country church1 What is the cause of so many empty church buildings7 ("A Study of Rural Schools in Texas,'' pp. 44-49.) 

2. 
What is being done to revive religious life in your com­munity1 In other communities? 

3. 
Give the story of the Du Page Presbyterian church in Will County, Illinois, and see if it has any suggestion for your community. 

4. 
What is the rural work of the Young Men's Christian Association f (Write to the several addresses suggested in the text for information and literature about the rural work of the Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A., and have one or more members make special study and report on this.) 

5. 
What is the rural work of the Young Women's Christian Association Y Why can this work not be started in your com­


munity~ 
6. How could there be a federation of weak rural churches into stronger institutions that would better promote the re­ligious life of the community 1 (Read the account by M. A. Travis in Farm &; Ranch, Dallas, Texas, October 9, 1915, of such a plan that is being carried out at College port, Texas.)