The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1890-07-02
FARMERS AND SCHOOLS.
"A Pointed Article From Lead
ing Southern Farmer.

ing Southern Farmer.
Some little time since, | wrote,
for the Cultiyator, an article on
farmers and fairs. This article was
intended to arouse more interest in
the development Of agricultural re-
sources. am writing now upon
farmers and schools To awaken more
interest in the kindred subject Of
education
Our income from our farms will
serve but poor advantage, if the
part necessary is not given to the
intellectual culture and improve
ment of our children.
There are but few misfortunes
more fnll Of evil to any community,
than the absence of educational
training. The farmermakes great
mistake, who allows his children to
grow up without such mental tram
ing and such general education as
will fit them, at least, for the practl-
cal duties of life.
It occurs to me that we are not
giving properattention to those de-
mands in the ruraldistricts. In the
absence Of schools, many children
are put upon the community as Tilt
crates. who become a burden 10 So
eiety and the State. Why not make
these boys and girls, BY training
and education, good citizens, useful
to themselves and helpful to the
State?
Many men excuse themselves
from the duties necessary to main
tain a neighborohood school, BY
putting the onus upon the State.
The State, say they have undertaken
the education OF its children and
they feel themselves relieved. The
question Is not as to the undertake
ing Of the duties, as much as its dis
charge. Are the advantages for an
education in our country districts
fully up to the demands fthe COM
munihess If not is it not the duty
Of citizens OF such communities to
begin at once to remedy these de-
fects?
No man believes our country
schools are what they ought to be,
nor what they might be, under prop
er effort and proper interest. In
many sections Of the State our
schools are not continued longer
than three or four months.
The amount paid IS not sufficient
to warrant the services of even an
ordinary teacher, and the limited
time Of the school cannot give such
instruction as will remain with the
child until the school opens again.
The lack o. competent teachers is
Of itself sufficient to destroy the eff
iiciency Of the instruction. Il would
seem, then the first thing We need
to do, in order 10 improve the coun-
try schools, is to advance the stand
ard for teachers. To get better
teachers, however, it will be neces-
sary to pay better prices, and to
earn better prices we must extend
the time Of the schools. At best.
therefore, II would appear that the
first thing to do is to arrange means
10 extend the time Of the schools
four to nine months, and then all
other possible advantages will fol-
low. rT
III the State cannot be induced ID
extend the appropriation sufficient
to warrant the additional time for
the schools, then the farmers should
themselves and among themselves.
by voluntary assessment. faise such
amounts as will be necessary to ex-
tend the time and establish such
schools as the community may de-
mand.
Some people make the mistake TO
rely upon the pittance furnished by
the State as sufficient for ordinary
demands, and excuse themselves
upon the ground Of the aid furnish
ed by the State. or demand more aid |
from the State rather than exercise
their right 10 a personal eontlibu-
ti5n to the education of their chill
dren. Formerly the State did none
of this work aud the parent was
left tu do IL alI. The fact that the |
State relieves the citizen of about |
0ne.half thIs burden docs not AZ an |
excuse the citizen from cheeffully |
carrying the other half.
II farmers. all over Georgia ana
The Svuth, would only fece2pizs
their duties in this connection hud
~ to WUrk, using the aid of The
State, a. far as il goes, aud supple.
meIting when this IL exhaused. by
drawing upon their individual pnf-
ses for the building IL good and
comfortable school houses and TIE
maintenance, in every communicy.