Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-06-07
THE COUNTY BOARD
Of AGRICULTURE.

Inc q QuaTLelly mcctiuS VI ciso Oioee17eS-
County Board of Agriculture was held in
Grange Hall Mickleton last Monday after
noon, President Elmer E. Clement, in the
chair, and Secretary NJ Ella Morgan, present
Every seat in the hall was occupied, men and
women being present in about equal num-
bers.
After routine business was disposed OF,
the discussion of the topic, s'What benefit,
if any, has been derived from the abolish
ment Of the small country schools = was
inaugurated by Mrs. Mary B. Brown.
She said she could not see that any good
had resulted from the abolishment of their
schools. The,people were promised that a
good central nigh school would be estab-
lished, and children would be transported.
Speaking from personal experience, expec-
tations had not been realized. She thought
the farmers had been robbed of heritage
handed down to them by their forefathers.
It had been hardship to them. 1t was
1 true that at times their school was small,
but at other times attendance was good. No
provision had been made in the central
school to receive the children from the
small school, and the children from the
country were made to feel that they were
not wanted.
Benjamin Heritage said no provision
had been made in their township East
Greenwich) for transporting pupils II
properly conducted he thought it would be
| a good thing.
Theodore Brown. speaking Of Swedes-
bore and Woolwich township, said no APP
preparation had been made to transport
children, ard the central school had not
been enlarged.
A.. P. Omen said the abolition Of the
small school worked hardship on people Of
small means The children il these schools
we're mostly small, and could rot walk
several miles to school.
Mrs. B own asked IL any body knew Of q
township where the schools bad been inn
proved under the new law.
Nobody youchsafed reply, except Mr..
Heritage, who said that he did not see any
general improvement in those of his town
ship.
Theodore Brown asked Mr.. Carpenter for
his opinion on the subject. Replying Mr.
G. said that his experience with the law was
in its application to cities, yet from infor-
nation received from various sources,
the large central school, supported by a.
thorough system Of transportation, worked
we'll in the West and in New England. 1t
was certainly an ideal system in theory,
because it gave the rural pupil the advan-
tage Of a graded school system and at min
imum cost to taxpayers. State Supsrin-
tendent Baxter, in a talk in Woodbury., a
few days ago, had advocated the idea OF
abandonment Of these small schools. The
fewer the children the greater the cost per
capita. A one-room school will cost at least
$500 per year. II there be ten pupils, the
per capita cost is $50, figure much in ex-
cess of the cost OF the best schools in the
State. But if Boards of Education abolish
the small school and make no provision for
transportation nor the reception Of pupils
in the central school, he could understand
why the scheme was not favorably viewed
by the patrons Of the small school,
Mr.. George W. F, Gaunt was asked for
his opinion, and said in his travels he found
that feature OF the law working satsifac-
torily in some of she Northern countries.
In this matter Of education, he said. farmers
should demand justice and equality Of
educational opportunity for our children.
He agreed with Mr.. Carpenter as to the
desirability Of the central school and the
transportation scheme if all features Of the
law were observed.
Benjamin Heritage read an interesting
paper on the topic, rs the higher education
Of the boys and girls desirable to keep
them on the FARM his conclusions being
that it was not, because the excessive labor
that naturally fell on both sexes on the
farm, al well as the small remunertion,
were not satisfying to the cultured intellect
Theodore Brown thought more children
left the farm because Of want Of higher
education than because Of it.
Mr.. Heritage acknowledged that there
were two sides to the question.
In semi-humorous vein, William P.
Haines argued the case Of Butter VS. Oleo,
or the reyerse as one choose to take il, the
weight Of his conclusions being rather in
favor Of the uniform cleanliness and sweet-
ness Of oleo.
John G. Wolferth read very instructive
paper on The proper packing Of Toma-
toes. - he said Canada and Cuba had
passed laws compelling uniform packing Of
all products, under penalty Of fine and i'm
Irisonment. and unless the farmers i'm
rr<,x,od tf.a;r m akhof3s sunf . law vV0uld hp