Scottsbluff and Gering have installed equipment and specially trained instructors for teaching Smith- Hughes Home Economics. Scottsbluff has also the Smith-Hughes agricultural work, both cities in these courses receiving special state and federal aid as well as detailed state and federal supervision in this work.

The boys learn practical and scientific agriculture with the addition of home projects; the girls learn to cook, and serve meals, to can fruit and to sew. The ability developed in these courses demonstrates the value of teaching vocational subjects in school under competent supervision.

The Scottsbluff and Mitchell Home Economics instructors and pupils have, during the past year, served hot cafeteria lunches to teachers and pupils at a nominal sum.

School Population

The school population of Scotts Bluff county in June, 1920, was 7,633, an increase of seventeen per cent over that of 1919. Since each year's increase has been rapid the ingenuity and

financial strength of school officials and patrons, especialy in cities and towns, have been greatly taxed to provide sufficient school room and equipment.

Among the better-built and more recent school houses in rural districts besides those already given, may be mentioned the following'1

District No. 3, a commodious brick building, especially well equipped and finished. This building is just east of the Scottsbluff Sugar factory.

Nine Mile school, which has had a mushroom growth during the last five years, and now has ample quarters for three teachers and their classes.

Creighton Valley, Number Eight, Number Seventeen, and Number Twelve have remodelled their buildings to take care of the increasing attendance and to make it possible to add one teacher each. District Ten West has provided space for two teachers. Number Twenty-four has a most excellent plan of structure with ample space for cloak rooms and hall and with furnace heat and approved lighting.