The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-09-01
EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY.

Towns Ne"l 1ianra, training ana Cook.
ing schools IS Well as Cities.
Practical educatieu is needed in the
country as we'll as in the city. There
has been too much brain culture in the
past, with too little Sense development
and mind training. With all opportuni-
ties for objective teaching and manual
training, but little of it has come to the
country, and yet the boys and girls there
need this training as much as children
in crowded city tenements. Successful
experiments in these directions are be-
ing made in many country neighbor-
hoods. Groups Of ladies are inaugural
ing cooking, carpentry, and clay model.
ing classes ana sending to the cities for
teachers.
In these neighbOrhoods boys who ex.
pected to become clerks, and in conse-
quence to leave their homes for city
boarding houses, are becoming impressed
with the interest as we'll as value of
tools. Girls are enjoying lessons in
hygiene and the chemistry of food, as
well as practical demonstrations of cook
ing. Sewing is also growing more and
more interesting, and the young girls
appreciate doing with the learning.
Take, for example, two neighbor-
hoods on the Hudson, near New York.
In one a library association was started
a few years ago by some ladies. There
seemed but few people around who
could or would utilize a library or read.
ing room, but soon many men and boys
gathered nightly. A sewing school was
started for Saturdays upon strict bust
ness principles, and within a month was
OvercrOWded. 1t was hard to tell where
the hundred or more girls came from,
but there they were, eager to learn. A
boys class for modelling and carpentry
started, then a cooking class for girls,
and all were successful. Monthly enter
tainments were held, when an admission
fee Of ten cents was charged, and the
rooms were crowded.
In the other n~eighbOrhood practical
classes have also started and are all
crowded. In this small settlement are
now being held three weekly cooking
classes for different groups of girls, two
large sewing classes, a dressmakin2
course and boys carpentry classes.
Village bands and choruses are valu.
able. In II place large group OF boys
are kept interested by their weekly band
practice. 4 right feeling of pride is
aroused when they are called upon tc
lead local professions, to play at enter.
~tainments, etc. Here, also, the teacher
Of the village school has started q gym
nasium, and is training boys and girls
alike IL the Swedish movements. Coun-
try children need to be physically devel-
Oped by training, and taught graceful
movements as well as city children.
Village volunteer companies Of boys can
be organized and made a power by fur.
nishing practical outlets to energies,
physical as we'll as mental.
Interest in surroundings should be
reused. The country, with its woods,
rocks, trees and plants, should be studied
intimacy with the beautiful variety OF
animal and insect life should be en-.
cOuraged. ThrOughs such channels homes
will be made brighter. Happiness means
cOntent1nent, and cOntcntment cOmes
from health, occupation and interest.
Country cOntentment will be the result
when young people become stronger,
keep brain as well as hand busy, and are
interested in others.-Grace Dodge in
L~ippincOtt's.