Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-04-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Education for Farmers Families.

There seems to be good deal said of late
in the public journals about educational
matters. All seem agreed in relation to
the great need, that is, an education that
shall, in reality, minister to the future wants
and necessities Of tho pupil. Now that every.
body is agreed about the want, let us stop
talking about that part of the matter, and
move on to the next business in order, and
that is Of supplying the want. don't be-
lieve professional men are going much out of
their way to help the farmer 10 this matter.
The farmers must help themselves. What is
the reason why school cannot be heavily
endowed and sustained here in the Connect.
cut river valley, located as it is right in the
heart Of the best agricultural community 10
New England Let US build up here
school that shall make men and women of
our boys and girls. First of all, let it be
taught that the 6rst great duty of humanity
is to earn its own living, and to make, or be
able to make, its own living from off the
bosom Of mother earth. Let every boy be
able to make tho proud declaration that he
lives by the sweat of no other mans brow.
Let him be taught to Gil the gap that was
opened up for him when God in his goodness
aud mercy breathed tho breath of life into
bis nostrils. Let him ask no man to bear
any Of liie's burdens for him. Let these first
elementary principles of manhood and wo-
manhood be drilled into our boys and girls,
and the wild schemes of the enemy cannot
prevail against them. The great curse Of
very many institutions Of learning in our
country is this, they aim to teach how their
pupils can best dodge the many great re.
sponsibilities Of life Come and eat of the
bread we can give you, and you may never
more have to bear the burdens in the heat oil
the day, but leave it for other men to do >
l am aware that this is very grave charge
but | do say tho charge cannot be success.
fully denied.
A school that does not always keep the
first great principles Of a glorious manhood
at the very front, makes slaves of one class
of our people and bigoted, conceited arts
tocracy of another class. The one great
thought in the school Of the farm must be,
"Let every man bear his own burden" Let
there be no saddliug of great part Of any
ones burden upon another, because he or she
happens to be smart. Let them rather assume
a part of the burden Of their fellow men who
chance to be weak. This drvlngand coaxing SO
many Of our young men into what they seem
pleased to call the gentemanly aud polite
professions, and then paying them for their al
most fTuitess labor ten dollars where they
don't earn one-the very thought is enough
to demoralizc a nation, aud this very idea is
what is leveling the ancient landmarks
among our people 1T this time.
A school where everything that is or eau
be known of science as applied to agriculture
can be practically taught. n school where
everything that there is or can be known
how best to prepare all of the great variety
of the products of the farm for the table i,
taught, ought at once to receive the pat.
roEagc OF every farmer within its reach. Let
farmers come to the front and take hold Of
this matter at once, and save manhood and
womanhood to their boys and girls that shall
be their browning glory, G.
HarerhM, ". H.. March n.