Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-01-27
To Enrich Rural Life

nv every one III the county an"
state. 1t contains so mdch coh'-
mon sense and so many valuable
suggestions, that our readers VIII
profit by It's reading, though some
of it may not be strictly applicable
to Highland.
The question of education is now
the dominant one in Virginia, and
the movement is getting such an
impetus that, it is to be hoped
every trivial objection and OPPOSE
ton will be swept away before the
onward march. Without attemp-
ing further comment. we SIMPLY
add that the one TO whom we are
indebted for the clipping is schoI'
arly gentleman. Highlander OF
whom we ale all proud, ard whose
LOYALTY to his native county and
friendship for hes people, gives
much weight to an opinion as so
what concerns her best Interests
and future welfare. .
At the late meeting in Norfolk
os the Co. operative Educatlona
Commission. DR.. S. {. Mitchell, OF
Richmond College, presented a
splendid paper on The Enrlch:
ment of Rural Life in Virginia.
lie called attention to the very
poor school system Of the rural DIS
tricts. as compared to the city m
situations, and to the fact that fam
lies are rapidly leaving the coun-
try to 90 to town, in order to pro-
perlv educate the children.
Said he: The most serious task
before us us IA people is the rehabil-
itatioa of the country, and the en-
richment of rural life. Virginia)s
problem is unique, being unlike
the condition of the cottongr0wing
States of the South and the grain
producing States of the Northwest.
In both of these regions farming
interests are buolant, owing to
high prices and physical advant
ages that admit of ~ competition,
while the manufacturing districts
of the North are thriving by varied
industries. Virginia occupies an
intermediate zone. For four weary
years her fields were ravaged by
contcnding armies. Ore need not
be surprised to find that farming
interests are decadent. This, OF
course, does net apply to the thirty
ing trucking section around tie
shores of the Chesapeake nor to
the fertile valleys Of the West.
[ cannot agree with the concIu-
sicn of a wholesale merchant who
said to HE that in his opinion it
WAS needless to try to stop the How
Of The people, csP"rirlI. Young reo
pie, TO the towns, b"cau<" that was
their on'v hope for II chHncr t"
IN Ike living f"r lhrm*"Iyr5 and
to gel on it ;hp world | lie i've
IL the farm,ifrl bow. | Ge'irye
that he is -, BE- Ihp hope oI
ia. future, Il: liz Ii s Grrn
the r..o,re If lie past IL h;|
nalig. strength in - nH &.n,Sl,"i
cAar .r:rr, ia = !if.t al':i kn"M :
ed &C. If n#;u.c. ia his yr5Aii.!.
cmtrr,ri,r nth ir>riyr power, il"
,o'rmci. that are Ia make 2IrAt
Il ' State ui,icli HIS The fore cat
to c!c.i<'t iim
I. The i,oiatiun Of ra:al lie
is hciog rvcrc"m"' hy (l> the irI-
phone (2) rural delivery # mi,
(3) travelling .l1larir.. and ~
good roads.
II. The s'asc If inr"crri'y IS
being o,,rcunr +, CD iI'r rncti-
cal Cis2pp' art:.re a. ihr t. s.
roads saloon. Wish ijr"rIa liz d
lahor and atd tired law les~"'r,-, ,I.d
(2Jb, rn,rr i:ic,ru; c"r>iaiu a'>
Perhaps "a s. ,t'n of r@r" II Ghiri
police Will have to be lSiaiii:Shrd
for ne counties in oar South'ro
States.
III. Tie ,aLr situation cnn be
rcmrded in part b, m ;hiag the
school, Whether fer Wilt" or black,
bear directly upon the lii" and
prcbi, ii e the i"rm.
The school can Le nude better
o. Ly quickening /, caF interest il
education. To This end school I'M
prov mont lcayu's should be form
ed. Which viii beautify te rounds
aud buildings and which will aWak =
en- and direct educational Scnii-
mpnt.
CD Nv lcngth"ning he school
t,rm to niue months
(3) Is, paving such " salary t"
ihc tcacLer rs vii! cOmm1nd better
instruction.
CD Bv making the School a
center Of ,oyi.d activities.
OF all Tie factors that enter INTO
tle enrichment Of rUrdl life the
public scno is second to none in
Significance. IL many instances
families are moving to the towns
chiftiy to secure Letter SCHOOLS for
tEcir children
Politics has too often led rs off
on the wrong scent. 1t is the au
a al n