Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-07-06
SPEAKS ON RURAL INDUSTRIAL
EDUCATION.
AT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Head of Stout Schools in Dunn
County Argues Firmly for Practical
Preparation of Country Girls and
and Boys for Their Life Work on
Farms.

Asbury Park, n, j., july 5.-Loreazo
d. Harvey of Menomonie. Wisconsin,
presented yesterday the report OF the
on industrial education in
schools for rural communities. II
was in part as follows:
1t may appear that too much rs
claimed from tle introduction of in.
dustrtal education as definite feature
of rural school work. 1t is not eN-
pectcd that this line C work can be,
come a properly organized and co,
ordinated part of tAe work in all rural
schools at once, nor in fact that ii can
ever be developed TO any considerable
extent without material modification
and extension of the present plan OF
rural school organization. Such a
modification will come slowly at the
best. Geographical and other eondi.
lions will make 1t impossible to effect
any material modification for many
years IN certain localities. Its intro.
duction TO any considerable extent de-
mands increased expenditure for
teaching force and for equipment, and
to secure the best results, the school
life of the people must be extended
through a longer period than ny
present. This adds another element
of cost in the education of the
country child. Those WAC have mad
nvnorEapca IN ,ttaYnntino IN ip1upp
farmers to increase taxes for any pur'
pose will fully appreciate the neces-
sity for the presentation of arguments
that are so clear and conclusive anu,
appeal so strongly TO the necessity OF
the persons to be reached, as to make
taxes involves an element OF loss to
the individual. The people who sup
port the rural schools must be educat-
ed to a higher standard as to the
needs of tleir children and the neces.
sary changes in the work Of their
schools to meet these needs.
There mas never been time in the
history of this country w1en the argu-
ments for industrial education in
rural communities could be presented
with as great force as at the present
time. At no time before have farmers
ever stood facing such problems OF
industrial organization as they DO TO
day. Competition is no longer con,
fined to the commercial world. The
farmer finds himself face to face vita
the problem of competition vita
farmers in his own or other localities
question of the man who can work
the most hours and the hardest, but It
is a question OF the man who works
most effectively, and he is the one
WAC has been prepared for 1t by
study OF what is essential a training
these essentials, and who now puts
tne best thinking and doing into ais
work.
Is is possible that in almost every
other line OF human endeavor >ohools
have been organized and are being
carried on to train men for law, for
the ministry, for engineering, in fact
for almost every department of tech.
nical labor and that there is no neces.
sity for schools whica shall specially
train the farmers boy and girl for
their work upon the farm.
1t may be said that it is not the
business of the common schools TO
train mechanics, nor to train farmers
That perhaps may be conceded; but
1t is the business OF the common
schools to so train those at
tending tnem as to make them more
effective and resourceful in whatever
line Of work they may enter. 1t is the
business Of the rural schools, which
give large majority OF the rural
school population all the education
they ever get in school. TO definitely
train these pupils with reference to
their present environment: and this
is reinforced by the fact tlat the
major portion OF these pupils, through
the productive period 81 life, will be
concerned with the activities incident
to country life.
For the limited number OF country
CHlIQTGU VINO continue IHHlT 6uuEhlIbh
beyond what the rural school system
should offer, ample facilities are al.
ready provided in secondary schools
and higher educational institutions,
either public or private, offering gen
eral or technical training
The present plan OF organization Of
the common school system seems 70
be upon the basis that its prime pui
pose IL TO prepare the pupils to enter
the secondary schools: and the prime
purpose OF the secondary schools
is 10 prepare pupils to enter
higher educational institutions.
II is time to change front In on
plan Of elementary and secondary
schools organization. IL is time to
recognize the fact that system 81
rural schools should plan IFS course 81
instruction with reference to the
needs of the as per cent OF tae pupils
who attend them and who attend 10
r4tar anIgaHn w1gNnw +tav ,4f4A 1919