The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-01-22
Burton Farmers' Club.

tlcal agriculture OI 6uucdtiol dliu pOiiLco
are discussed, and indeed the Farmers club
has largely supplanted the lyceum Of fermer
DAYS and has the advantage of making easy
takers rather than air saving orators. Par
liamentary proceedings are practiecd in the
| same way and debate proceeds upon natural
division rather than upon forced assign
ments Jan. 14th the ass NIB aye was at
| the home of Mr.. and Mrs j. w. Rose with
| the very appropriate farm home name Villa
Rose Mrs. Geo. Il. Mason presided with
| the ease of a veteran pa, Humanitarian. In
| the absence OF the chaplain, Rev. ID. 5.
| Cramer, the association stood and reverently
repeated the Lords Prayer. Several unan-
swered questions were considered, one OF
| which was novel In its way, being the query
whether black sheep or white ones eat the
more TO those who who were not ac-
quainted with the question the matter was
under consideration when the answer was
sprung that the prepOnderance OF white
sheep was sufficient for the conclusion that
they were the heartier eaters. On the
question concerning tho same number of
months of school term In the district AZ in
the city schools and the instruction in the
| higher branches in the country schools de-
bate continued for considerable time. Mr..
Lewis held that he wanted his children to
know of farm life and home duties as well
as an education in the more restricted sense.
Were the terms of school heightened, chill
dren would he obliged to spend mUre time
away from home and would be deprived OF
this home training. Supt. Simmons, of
Owosso, said that the long terms in a cOun-
try were not as necessary as in the city. In
the latter place in order TO keep the children
off the streets, schools must be maintained
for long periods and If il were not for the
hot weather 1t would be well to have COLI
tlnuous sessions. Mr.. Shepard asked MIR.
Summons II there was the natural aversion
to The study of grammar found in the city as
In the country. 10 this Supt. Simmons re-
piled tnat the method of teaching was radi-
cally different. In the primary grades Ian
guaXe work was commenced, pupils were
taught the Use Of words and their cOrrecct
correlation. descriptive writing was In this
way begun without the pupils really know
ing that grammar was being taught. Mrs.
j. N. Mcbride said that pupils in the gram
mar grades were thus instructed, and In
writing descriptions Of what they had seen
or in writing in their own language the
synopsis of some story read them, the solu-
lion VI the grammar problem, was solved
really without the knowledge of the diff
Guilty. Miss Guilf0rd inquired why this
method was not followed more in the dis.
trict work. Mr.. Simmons replied that the
pupil who entered the high school from tht
country knew nothing OF this work done in
the lower grades and these persons in q
large measure made up the ranks OF tht
district school teachers. Jas. N. Mcbride
quoted the remark Of Ben Butler that ''tht
country boy who went to school winters and
did chores for his board besides, usually
came out about as well as the city boy wht
went to school ten months in the year. Ed
ucational discussion at this point was adj
journed until afternoon. The Folding doors
were thrown open and banquet table pre-
scented itself in view. There were the
nuts of the farm and fruits of the tropics,
cakes. puddings and pies, that made most
happy combination. When the club mad
been ranged around the tables VIM. Merrel
invoked divine blessing. There was rat
tie of dishes, an aroma Of coffee and flow
of wit that all betoken the best of feelings
inspired by the bounteOus spread.
The afternoon session was marked by the
recitals OF Nj ,ss Minnie Warren, the child
eiOcutionist, st Mchaers and Smelling Peas,
being those that brought forth rodnd after
round of applause. Miss Warren Is but q
child, yet has the proper conception and EN-
tiers into the spirit of the production she re-
cites. ''Does it pay to Think" was the
subject to be discussed by the women. Miss
Guilford read all amusing poem from Judge
and while the general opinion was that II
did pay to think it was question more axi
matte than easily discussed. 1t was back t
school meeting once more and Geo. l.
Mason set the ball rolling on the question
involving higher education and the cost t,
the people tor the same. Supt Simmons
said that he would scarcely advise the intro
duction of the higher branches in the dis
trict school but would have teachers take ul
familiar questions in philosophy, botany
physiology, and geology, and lead the pupil
into the paths of Knowledge IN that way
For example, the geological drift of neigh
borhood may be considered by the depths U
wells when the water supply is reached
The interest i'm botany may be excited b.
examining under the microscope the flower
that grow i'm our forests and fields. Th
question then turned Oh how Such ability il
the teachers corps could be obtained
Higher wages and longer leisure would b
, remedies. Ii school boards would revers
their methods of engaging teachers by say
ing so much money would be devoted h
teachers salary and then secure the bes
possible talent for the money rather than t
put the school up for bidders and accept TIN
lowest bid for the job. Where the schoo
was let for the lowest bid the result was
low grade JAS. n. Mcbride said as mucl
as we might regret the good old days gon
by, when the large boys and girls made al
interesting school, the economy of thing
had changed and, in the division of labO
the shop had left the farm and become tn
factory and the high school was better abb
to do the woik that was formerly done II
part In the district school, and the chang
was after all for the better. A high schoc
course was not beyond the reach OF any en-
ergetic young person. MIR. Merrell though
that instruction in book keeping and alge
bra might be proftably done in the countr
schools. The regular work of the afternool
closed with another recitation by Miss Min
I mic Warren, which carried the audienc
! with her in sympathy and pathos.
Tho election of officers followed and tn
installation OF Danl. Lewis as president AM
his administrative officers will take plac
next month at Pioneer Farm, the resldenc
of Mr.. and Mrs. T.. B. Simpson. Ii such
club was formed in every neighborhood a
that at Burton or the Maple River Organiza
tlon, the effects would bc most benefcia