The School and the Neighborhood by Leo Thiel

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 18, 1916

The School and the Neighborhood

By Leo Thiel

ONE of the fundamental principles of successful rural school work is that the school must meet the needs of the patrons. The children must be educated, and in many instances the parents must be taught new methods through the children. Two great obstacles confront rural school workers,—the poverty of the patrons, and the need for the upbuilding of the community through the activities of educated men and women.

I have noticed that the rural school workers are earnestly endeavoring to meet the needs of the people. They are anxious that no pains be spared to make their schools real factors in the upbuilding of the community. Hardships and privations have no terror for them. That their efforts are appreciated is shown by a little incident that came to my attention a few days ago. One of the rural schools was in dire need of a mule to use in putting in its crops. These workers were almost desperate, and realized that without the mule they would have to close the school close, the neighbors “chipped in” and bought the mule.

Ease and luxury, and often the common necessities of life, are given up by these workers, especially when the school is being started. The farm on which the workers depend for their support is not up to a high and profitable stage of cultivation. This leads to the exercise of economy. The teaching of economy is one of the corner stones in the conducting of the rural school.

LEO THIEL.