Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-06-03
RURAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS

RURAL IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS.
We feel very thoroughly what you
have said about rural improvement as
sociations. We have no organization
whatever in this neighborhood. What
do you recommend us to do? / am not
myself member of the Grange, but as
rule should recommend the organiza-
ton of grange as preferable to any
other organization, because it calls into
action both women and men in proper
cooperation. II you form farmers
club, be sure to admit women as mem
bers. Do not undertake to hold too
many meetings. One meeting month
is probably enough. The subjects for
debate should be those of local interest,
and these should be thoroughly worked
up by the use of farm papers. Start a
small library at once of the best farm
books. The social effect should be as
important as the educative. Associate
the movement with the introduction OF
telephones-if you have not already
circuits of sufficient extent. Don't
introduce topics which will lead to a
quarrel for farmers rights. You will
invariably find that the most shiftless
farmers are the most Jealous in hunting
up something, or somebody, that is in
their way. Let somebody else fight the
oleomargarine, while you learn how to
fight weeds, neglect, and waste, and bad
marketing. Just now the most i'm
portant topic is how to get at markets
with your products.
An enthusiastic letter comes from a
woman, who says she spends part of her
time teaching and part of her time garden
ing. She takes her pupils Into the
garden for an hour or more every day"
This is grand idea, wheni it is not inter-
fered with by the school authorities. In
due time we shall have all our schools
arranged on some such basis. 1t would
be well if every other hour could be
given to outdoor thinking, study and
work. If nothing could be taught in
this way, it would be enongh to show
the work that nature is carrying on in
the way of evolution. The fact is that
none of us sees one-tenth of what is
going on about us, because we have not
been educated TO see things thoroughly.
1t is just so with hearing and with smell
my. we are al pdi lldIlS uiiuu ohu
partially deaf. The end of education
should be TO widen out the range of life
for pupils. They ought to know how to
hear the different birds and distinguish
their songs. They ought also to be able
to sympathize with the growth or
growths that are going on. The educa-
tional value of breeding plants is
very great. The study of weeds and
fungoids is just as interesting and i'm
portant as the study of valuable plants.
A boy who has found out the use of a
weed has sharpened his wits, and is on
the way to becoming valuable member
of society. This little woman who
writes says that she used Ito get all
tuckered out with teaching" before she
got at this idea of taking her sessions in
outdoor teaching and study. Now she
feels fresher at night than when she
went to work in the morning." That
shows that our present system of teach
ing children is wrong all around. The
best educators are now agreed that the
school system must be modified much
more radically to develop the physical
life of the children. Does our friend
know what the word "tuckered" means?
Seventy-five years ago girls dresses were
made with five or six tucks, and each
year one of these was let down to match
her growth.-Tribune Farmer.