St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-12-02

1--WE wish to keep at its highest point
the peculiarly American quality of indi-
vidual efficiency, while at the same
fine bringing about that cooperation
which indicates capacity in the mass.
Our aim must be to supplement indivld-
ualism on the farm and in the home with
an associated effort in those country
matters that require working together.
Moreover, we must not forget that
there is a new phase of the problem of
the country, which is the problem of
country homes for city workers. Cheap
transportation, which has strengthened
| so much the ten 1ency to city growth, is
now helping to scatter the population OF
large cities for home purposes through
the adjacent country. AS we come near
er the healthy idea of a universal eight
hour day, and a closer association be-
tween employer and employee. there will
be growth in the opportunity for city
people to enjoy suburban homes.
Therefore, we have to deal now, and
we will have to deal in the future with a
nation of families on the land; and our
system of public education should be
so broadened in it's scope as to include
not merely the traditional cultural
studies, excellent and indispensable in
their way but also instruction relative
to the farm, the times and the home.
Industrial training, training which
will fit girl to do work in the home,
which will fit boy to do work in the
shop if in a city, to work on farm il in
the country, is the most important OF all
training aside from that which develops
character; and it is a grave reproach to
us as nation that we have permitted
our training to lead the children away
from the farm and shop instead of
toward them.
If in other words the school system
should be aimed primarily to fit the
scholar for actual life rather than for a
university.
II thoroughly believe that our people
approve of the higher education, but |
also believe that they are growing more
and more to demand reform in second
airy schools which shall fit the ordinary
scholar for the actual work of lie.
Therefore, | believe that the national
government should take an active part
in securing better educational methods,
in accordance with some such system as
that outlined in the bill introduced in
the last Congress by Mr.. Davis.
1T is not my place to speak of the de-
tails of such a bill, but in a general way
| feel that the nation should, by making
appropriations, put premium upon in
dustral and especially agricultural,
training in the state schools; the states
themselves being required in these
schools to contribute what is necessary
for the ordinary training, and the ex-
penditures for the national government
to be under the supervision OF the de-
partment of agriculture
AN this simply means that the nation
ought to cooperate with the state to
help the people help themselves through
better educational facilities, the schools
being left wholly and directly under the
control of the people through their
local authorities, but suggestion and
general oversight as well as improve
ment being supplied by the experts EN-
ployed by the nation. so that the child
rem and the Young men and girls in the
smaller towns and in the country may
have the educational facilities now only
This would merely be putting into
effect that cardinal American doctrine
of furnishing a reasonable equality of
opportunity of education and chance of
development to all ourchildren, wherever
they live and whatever may be their
station in life Such a federal co-opera-
ton in technical education will help in
many ways. 1t will mean much for
country life, for the life Of the family
farm, for the life of those city workers
who seek landed homes in the country
near the city in which they work.
1T will mean much along the lines of
the great policy of the conservation Of
the natural resources of our land.
Finally, it will mean much to the nation
of the future, because it will represent the
effort to give exact justice, and an equal
opportunity for development to each Of
the boys and girls who in the future are
to make up the nation"