Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-05-10


now large portion of the rising gen
GRAFTON is far from mastering even
the branches now required by law to
be taught. SO no additional study
can be introduced into our schools
without some that are now taught
thereby suffering. Nothing should
be added that is not Of more impor
lance to the rising generation at large
than what is now taught, and it will
scarcely be claimed by any one that
agriculture meets this requirement.
True, every schoolhouse and grounds
should of themselves impress each
and every pupil with some important
lessons In agriculture taken in its
broadest sense. No child should
grow up in surroundings that do not
impress it with the beauties of rural
life. The inside and outside and
surroundings of every schoolhouse
should be so beautiful not only in
the hearts of farmer children but Of
all children. Childhood is the form
ative period. Think for moment of
the evil now being done by having
this impressive season of our child
ren's lives spent in our gloomy, din
gy, repulsive schoolhouses. Then
think what reformation, what an
uplift, what an inspiration toward
everything that is good, it would be
to have these repulsive things con-
verted into clean, neat, attractive
places, with the inside walls beauti-
fed with instructive maps. notices
and pictures, and the surrounding
grounds properly decorated with
trees and shrubs. Only such lessons
in agriculture as could be thus indi-
rectly taught could with profit be
taught in our schools. But while
there would be neither justice in
teaching agricultural as science in
our schools nor time 70 teach il.
there is one other study | think
should be taught and given full
portion of the time with those now
taught. refer to the injurious eff
fects of intoxicants and narcotics on
the human system. Not only farm
ers' children but all children need
instruction in these matters. Every
child should be taught that he can
not imbibe poisonous alcohol, nor
saturate his blood, flesh, and bones
with narcotics without defiling and
injuring his body, which God de
signed as a fit temple for the indwel-
ling of His holy spirit. And when
making laws to compel instruction
in these vital matters, see to it their
good effects are not neutralized by
having teachers whose habits do not
conform to the spirit of the laws.
Then when you make our school
houses and teachers not only teach
the danger of using intoxicants and
narcotics, but by their practice show
the beauty of living untainted with
such vile poisons, gather up the child
rem that are now spending their pre-
cious time in idleness or worse, with
cigarettes, pipes, or guilds of tobacco
In their mouths, make them throw
away these vile things and enter
these schools so as TO be moulded
and inspired by them into something
like what a citizen of this grand
country should be.
AS our schools are and have been,
there is no excuse for any one grow
ing in ignorance and yet we have
many all around US who cannot write
their own names. But make the
schools what they should be and
compel those for whom they are pro
vided, to use them and it will soon
be difficult thing to find one who
is only able to indicate that he lives
by miserable apology of cross
mark for mis- name. Say to the ris-
ing generation that if you do not learn
to read and write your own love let
tiers you shall neither get married nor
have vote.
Make such laws as | have herein
suggested and compel their being
carried out in letter and in spirit,
and you will not only benefit agri-
culture but all other occupations a
thousand fold more than you can
possibly do by attempting to teach
the science of agriculture in oul