"It ought to be possible to convince the patrons of every district that a single acre of land is not sufficient ground upon which to grow big, bright, broad-minded boys and girls; that two, or three, or four acres of land, well planned as to baseball diamond, basketball court and a good free run for dare-base and pull-away--that such would give the state and the world better results than if the land were devoted to corn and alfalfa. This, I believe, is the first problem of great magnitude--to get the ground--and it must be considered. Children must play. The noon hour, when they eat for five minutes and play fifty-five minutes, is all-important in a child's life." In order to carry out the suggestions given by Professor Dickens, why not organize a general rally, perhaps on the occasion of Arbor Day, and all hands join in preparing and planting the school grounds to suitable shade trees, shrubs, and the like? The playgrounds could also be laid out and equipped on this occasion. Then, after this excellent start has been made, have the school board appoint some reliable man as caretaker of the grounds with payment of reasonable wages for what he does. Thus the good beginning will not be lost. A MODEL RURAL SCHOOL The State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, has built and equipped a model rural school for use in practical demonstration work. President John R. Kirk gives a detailed description of this building in _Successful Farming_ (April, 1911) as follows:-- "This schoolhouse has three principal floors. The basement and main floor are the same size, 28 x 36 feet, outside measurement. The basement measures 8 feet from floor to ceiling. Its floor is of concrete, underlaid with porous tile and cinders. The basement walls are of rock and concrete, protected by drain tile on outside. The basement has eight compartments. [Illustration: PLATE XII. FIG. 14.--The model rural school building, as constructed for practice and demonstration work at the Kirkville (Missouri) Normal School.] "1. Furnace room, containing furnace inclosed by galvanized iron, also double cold air duct with electric fan, also gas water heater. "2. Coal bin, 6 x 8 feet. "3. Bulb or plant room, 3 x 8 feet, for fall, winter, and spring storage. "4. Darkroom, 4 x 8 feet, for children's experiments in photography. "5. Laundry room, 5 x 21 feet, with tubs, drain, and drying apparatus. "6. Gymnasium or play room, 13 x 23 feet. "7. Tank room containing a 400-gallon pneumatic pressure tank, storage battery for electricity, hand pump for emergencies, water gauge, sewer pipes, floor drain, etc. "8. Engine room, containing gasoline engine, water pump, electrical generator, switchboard, water tank for cooling gasoline engine, weight for gas pressure, gas mixer, batteries, pipes, wires, etc.