The State Board of Health, especially through their sanitary conventions
lately held in seyeral parts of the State, are discussing the houses with refer-
ence to a suitable supply of fresh air, drainage, and good water. The State
Teachers’ Association has several times had good papers and discussions on
the condition of the common schools. The members of our subordinate and
county granges often talk of thissubject. The State Grange does the same
thing. The State Horticultural Society is trying to fix up the grounds. The
school is besieged on all sides. The new county boards of examiners are
going to see that none but good teachers are provided. 'The Board of Health
is making plans for suitable ventilation. ‘The granges and the State Teachers’
Association, and the teachers’ institutes are going to keep agitating the sub-
ject. If these agencies continue to work, there is little risk in prophesying
that the time will soon come when we shall all point with pride to everything
that pertains to our country schools. Let us unite in the good work and keep
the ball rolling. Let every one here who can muster courage enough, on his
return home, go to work and see if he cannot do something this coming
spring to benefit his school. There is no better place for doing a good
missionary work. A model school here and there, scattered about the coun-
try, will act as leayen to bring up others in the vicinity. I wish to offer the
following resolution:

Resolved, That in the opinion of the members of the Michigan State Hor-
ticultural Society, the grounds about a country school house ought to be at
least one acre in extent.
