The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-14

them Will spend their lives upon the
farms. Agriculture has come TO be a
science. While our children are learn
ing to read and to write and to cipher,
they can just as we'll learn the elemen-
tary principles of agriculture. These
elementary principles are embodied in
courses Of study that any child can
erasp, known as nature studies These
nature studies are being introduced in
the school systems of all the States.
Together with these nature studies ele-
mentary manual training is also being
bod in a course of study
1t seems very reasonable that those
who must make their homes in the
country should have a knowledge of
the growth of plants and animals, that
they SHOULD know more of the soil; that
they should know how to beautify their
homes. but this knowledge will never
come from the dilapidated 1892 school
house situated in the edge of the woods.
This must come from a practical demon
StratlOn, from teacher who do more
than grind out a few dry questions.
The next subject for consideration is
manual training; that the minds Of the
youths may be employed in mastering
the use of tools and in the study of
modern machinery. Such tools and sue
machinery as will save labor on the
farm and make the farmer independent
OF the labor question This would
doubtless side-track a few lac who, hay
ing learned to speak Patrick Henry 5
Give me Liberty, or give me Death
threads a golden path hroug the legal
profession into politics. 1t is the proper
thing to aspire to greatness; but the
a Ara ~
can not in his sophomore stage give
birth to an IDEA unless the legal profess
sion is a necessary adjunct This is
especially true of boys from the coun-
try; and before their diplomas are
signed they are seeking employment as
insurance men, school, teachers or book
agents. Today if a young man conf
pletes even the high school course in
the country. he does not know any
more about the profession he is to follow
than if he had never been to school He
knows less about farming than the
poor boy who stayed at home and
worked; and it is this poorer boy who
becomes the farmer, the other goes to
town and seeks employment. The
whole trend of education for twenty
five or thirty years has been away
from the farm.
The elementary subjects, such as read
ing, writing and arithmetic should receive
the greatest attention; nor should his
tory and literature be neglected. But the
great SUBJECT under consideration should
be to train the children for the lives
they are to lead. This will never be
done III our present system of public
schools, because competent teachers can
rot be secured. To put a textbook Of
agriculture, animal industry, gardening,
and fruit growing in the hands Of the
average public school teacher would cause
the children to flee from such an occu-
PATTON as they would from the wrath to
come. 1t is impossible to get the best
teachers in the country according to the
present Systm. If the schools in a town
ship would combine into one township
graded school, the same money that it
takes TO run the schools our months
would increase tire term 10 nve and a half
or six months with a corps of fine teach
ers, and d surplus fund for conveying
all the children to school who live over
two mills from school. Here under the
guidance Of the principal and the super
vision Of a competent superintendent,
these subjects could receive proper atten-
ton. Here four or five hundred children
would come together under the influence
0f fine. strong. cultured teachers, while
at present. they come together in groups
of about tifty-each under teachers from
their own COMMUNICATIVE are of the
best people; but who can not equal the
uplifting strength of fine teachers.
Should Latin or French be taught?
Pref. Booker Washington in his auto
biography tells of negroes. whom he has
observed, sitting On d dirt floor in Il
Nretched, filthy hOyel, reading Greek.
Here is culture for you. There is d
strange incougruity somewhere. Two hui
dred anG fifty years ago Milton suggested
tiiat-thc moral classes be taught prac-
teal agriculture instead OF Latin and
Greek. Now this was at a time when
Latin was the court language. The Gus
tom today is in our deplorable situation.
as soon as the boy or girl has entered
syntax of Horry's Higher Grammar to
put him in Latin; for, they say. how
can a child understand English unless
he knows ono Latin? The student may
actually read a little Caesar; but by
this time he or she drops out Of school,
Now, here is Your picture. Take your
buggy and drive through the country
and see for yourself. If it is in Ithc
summer time YOU will see this same
girl hOeing cotton or working in to-
bacco. If is is in the fall YOU Will see
this identical girl picking cotton OF
grading tobacco She studied Latin
read Cesar. When she was in school
possibly she could read a little oil
Moliere in the original. Why did she
study these exits? They were culture
studies and helped her considerably
With her English; but it doesn't requir,
very much English to hoe cotton an(
grade tobacco. Did her training hell
her to make her own clothes or to trim
her own hats? or does she have to picl
cotton and hire these things done? Doe,
her training help her to make a hous.
attractive and pleasant? Does her train
ing help her to cook with moro Kill am
taste: or making the question broadeI
still, has her education, her training
made her independent so that she cal
repair herself or her house in as at
tractlNe manner as the average cir
longs for in the city? Or is the onIr