Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-03
THE FARMER BOY AND
EDUCATION.

There are not many OF us on the farm
or In business who have had enough OF
education, That we are able to keep
our books and accounts correctly and
IN good shape does not necessarily inn
ply that we have had any at all, for
a few months practice alone can make
most men able TO do this II they have
never been TO school q day. But good
nara study during our school days
and college days, too, II we have been
so fortunate-hard enough study 10
fasten the habit OF study on US for
NE, Is going TO give US the mental
preparation and ability 10 make sue
cess In anything We may take up.
You often hear OF somebody being
spoiled for a farm or for any kind OF
hard work by q college education. A
college education in itself requires hard
work, and, therefore is the best pre-
paratlon for any kind OF hard work
to follow; 80 where can the harm come
IN? Not In the college education, but
invariably, II you look into the cases
OF these college spoiled boys, you win
never find the real thing, but rather @
poor substitute for an educatlon-a
smattering picked up between social
duties and general good times at
school, that has done the harm. SO Il
Is not college that hurts the boy. but
That which too often goes with the col |
lege course with dad paying the bills |
ours Is a college town and a good |
place to watch the effect OF education |
on the different boys as they come and |
go, Lots OF our farmers sons leave |
college after graduation and go back |
to the farm perfectly satisfied and |
make things hum on the old place, hut |
almost without exception these are the
boys who make their own way through
school, or at least help TO do so. But,
sorry to say. there are q great many
more boys who go through with their
way paid, have the good time, which
they consider the main part OF college
life and come out In the end with their
heads swelled too large to fit the old
niche on the farm or in dads store,
and, In fact, too badly out Of shape TO
III anywhere where hard work or
steady application is required. They
took their good time first. and must
next expect the other thing
These are the boys who give college
bad name, and are the means of
many a poor boy being kept out OF
'ollege who might have done good work
Il once permitted to try. The educa-
lion gets the blams, whereas Il does
rot enter into the case al all: II IS sim
ply a minus quantity with these fell
ows, who have really never been stu
Tents, but who have slid through coll
eye some way or other.
From the time the farmer lad starts
o school until he Is through he has
lad the lives OF statesmen, authors,
'reat financiers and the Ike held be-
ore him as examples, until he comes TO
egard the farmer as such an unim-
creature that he makes up his
nind that farming Is the only thing
e must not engage in when he grows
y. He never heard about any great
armers at school, unless by accident
omethng about man a long time
go leaving the plough to serve his
ountry and then returning 20 the farm 1
nd refusing all honors or reward that
he people wished 10 thrust upon him
nd II he did hear Of this man he ,
lought him "chump," likely, for not
liking his plum, as all good politicians
o now. 7
These great men are all right for the
tile fellow, but why not impress up y
n him also that the world cannot go
\ without farmers, and that good ones !
re as necessary as good statesmen
nd presidents, Then maybe, more OF q
10 boys who are In such hurry to 4
ave the farm would stay with the old
lks and become good farmers. good :
IAN that suggests itself would be for I;
cry teacher In the country schools to i
I apart each week an hour or two, S
ring which time each pupil at least :
nong the boys. should draw a plan OF U
S farm, or the farm on which he I,
yes, showing buildings, fields. brooks, y
I'd, In fact. any points he might wish n
put In. Let this be done for the first Il
ne; then the following week take t
} the crops in the different fields and y
them describe them, and so on 4
Oh time. something along this line NJ
at they will enjoy telling or writing N
out This kind Of work will appeal VI
ry strongly TO the average farmer N
y and stimulate his interest in farm y
e to a degree that cannot help being ~
cd for him.-Lynn Brown oxford, er
10, In NJ Y, Tribune Farmer.