Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-30
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT.
AN ARMY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN

There are some who are stiH willing TO
make light OF the agitation for the con-
servStion OF natural resources II is not
surprising that this should be the case
for they have not given consideration to
the fact that there will be more than
twice as many mouths TO feed in America
Sc years from now as there are today. IL
the present rate OF increase In population
and immigration continues Moreover, the
scoffer is seldom IL ever a student Of
economics. and only those who have gone
into the question carefully can be ex-
pected TO realize the gravity of the pres
ent situation We spend lavishly for edu-
cation. as will be noted later on. The
question Is how well do we spend for
education. and are we realizing from this
expenditure what we might naturally
expect II the destruction of the natural
sources OF wealth and the consequent
supremacy OF the nation is threatened, Is
there not something seriously defective In
our present plan Of educatiOa2 To all
right thinking persons there evidently is,
and the purpose OF this paper is TO con-
slider some phases Of our educational ac-
tfvities as they exist at present for the
purpose OF ascertaining IL they are serv-
INK the best interests Of the nation, and
them permanently helpful in the rejuve-
nation OF our soils and the conservation
OF our other natural resources.
The commissioner of education In his
report for the year 1908 states that there
were Is. so SIS children in both rural and
urban schools. OF this number. 10.64s. 2S7
were enrolled in rural. town and village
schools containing less than population
Of 4.oo0 In other words, this vast army
Of children were largely being instructed
IN the rural districts. and as they would
constitute about one-eighth OF the popula-
ton. II their education is being rightly
directed. II would appear that the next
generation should be able TO take care
OF the question OF rejuvenating our ex-
hausted agricultural lands. But as a mat
ter OF fact are these children receiving
any instruction which would ut them es-
pecialiy TO live on the farm and to cope
with q problem Of such magnitude and
vast economic concern TO the welfare Of
the nation? An examination OF the situ-
alton reveals the fact that some consid-
Grafton Is being given 20 school garden
Ing IN various localities and that occa-
si0naily a real rural school has been de-
veloped. and while a more or less spo-
radio attempt is being made TO teach
what is called elementary agriculture I'm
the rural schools. for the most part Moth
Ing os real substantial merit. is being
done. and hence this vast army Of boys
end girls ike their predecessors are to be
turned out within the course OF few
years with an education which does not
1t them for their life work. This is the
crux OF the situation and constitutes the
real peril Of our national existence. These
Boys and girls unacauainted with the en-
vironments which surrounds them be-
ueve that life on the farm is 10 be one
y long drudgeFy. that there Is no future
70 the vocation OF agriculture. and that
ne country with its inconvenience and
distance from the apparent enchantments