Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-03
COUNTRY LIFE.

We are In receipt Of communica-
ton inviting a representative OF the
News" to the session Of the Conimis-
sion Of Country Life at the Governors
office. In the letter, the writer, DR..
John a. yYidtsoe, president OF the
Agricultural College, Logan, says, in
part:
Dear Sir: The Commission on
Country Life appointed by President
Roosevelt, have signified their Intention
OF being in Salt Lake city on Thurs
day, Dec. 3rd. They will hold three ses-
sions on Thursday, the session In the
afternoon being devoted to a hearing
from the professional and business men
of our state. This committee consists
of eminent citizens of the Nation. in
Guiding Dean Bailey, who has q ma
tional reputation as a, writer on agri-
cultural subjects; Henry Wallace, edi-
tor Of Wallace's Farmer; Kenyon +.
Butterfeld. Of the Massachusetts Az
tho rs. Forest Serydce. Walter Il.
Page, of New York; and T.. w. Allen
The Investigation, I am Informed, is
for the purpose Of getting the views OF
the citizens OF our state on subjects
pertaining to the welfare of our cour1
try people, and viii embrace topics of
sanitation on the farm. better roads
for the farmer, the parcel post, rural
free delivery, telephones. markets, thu.
hired help problem, Transportation IA
4cilitles. and other problems of interest
to the farmers. n tt i 4 sft, lsit !|i5il
The session to which you are cordi-
ally Invited, viii be held at O'Clock, in
the Governors office, and I am sure
that It viii be appreciated by the
Commission If you can arrange to be
present on that occasion and give the
Commission the benefit Of your obser-
vations and experience along these
lines" 5S
The Commission on Country life was
organized on the suggestion of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who also suggested that
the country people of the United States
come together in their district school
houses on or before Dec 9Th to discuss
matters under consideration by the
Commission, as these matters found
application in the several districts.
The members OF the Commission on
Country life are serving voluntarily
and without pay. They are giving their
time and efforts simply to act as the
medium through which the country
people of the United States may give
expression to the conditions and needs
Of country life. Investigations are not
being made, except insofar as the re-
ception of opinion and suggestion from
country people may be termed investi-
CATION.
Country life in the United States is,
probably on much higher plane than
that of most countries. At least. farm
ers all over the world are coming to
the United States and seem to be we'll
content with the change. Still, there is
room for Improvement. And the most
effective way Of bringing about needed
reforms Is to come together and dis
themselves are the ones to make their
wants known and to suggest remedies.
In statement issued by the Com
mission, from ithaca, N. Y, 1t is said:
80 far in the Commissions inquiry
the demand most mistakenly made Is
for extended educational facilities fit
ting people to live In the country. We
can think of no better opening move
ment in the campaign to better educa-
tional facilities than these meetings OF
the country people in their district
school houses which represent to them
to a very large extent the only avail
able agency for a carefully prepared
basic education. In these meetings the
country people may determine exactly
what are their educational needs They
may then inquire what their district
school is doing to meet these needs.
They may then inquire to what extent
they themselves can improve the lis
trict school. and to what extent they
must depend upon governmental ngen-
cies to help them out.
.'As we see 1t, the primary thing for
the country people to do Is to clearly
define what are their educational needs
as they see them. This will give a
basis for definite work.
I'm most states of the Union the pa
irons of the school districts have 1t
directly in their power to dictate what
their system of education shall be. The
status of the average country school
proves concluSively that there is no
definite realization in the community
OF what the community needs are, nor
4 of the fact that it is the function of
the school to meet these needs. It Is as
though people should disregard the
postoftice and seek elsewhere for
means of postal communication.
We hardly think the most pressing
needs of the rural districts in this
State are of an educational nature. AS
a rule the schools in Utah are excellent
and the school facilities amnIa Rut