Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-10-13
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL CONTEST At.
GERMANTOWN A BIG SUCCESS. (

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL CONTEST AT.
GERMANTOWN A BIG SUCCESS. Z
Germantown, MINI, Oct. 10, 1910.
Editor Warren Sheaf:
The second annual rural schools,
Industrial contest held here Oct 1st
under the supervision of County Supt.
Mithun was an event of consequence
exceeded by nothing and approached
only by the first affair of its kind
held here last year, and believing il
to be worthy Of note in our county pa
pers, l am taking the liberty to ac.
on the suggestions of interested friends
OF the industrial movement by submit
ting an account with request and
hopes for it's publication in an early
issue of the Sheaf.
Summarily it may be stated that it
was a success in all ways and fulfilled
the expectations of-the most sanguine
That much indeed would go without
saying, while it is noted that the
present county superintendent was in
charge.
There were entered 2O3 exhibits on
which 127 prizes were awarded
amounting in all 10 $4,000 Of which
the local school, Dist. 1907, was sue
cessful in securing about one half.
The judging of the exhibits was done
by the agricultural and domestic
science teachers Of the Thief River
Falls schools to the evident satisfac.
tion of all concerned.
AS compared with last years con-
test here there were "a more exhibits
+ and about three times the amount o1
money available for premiums, but
what is of more Importance thass mum.
| bers and amounts is the quality Of
the exhibits, which it is safe to say,
was at least 200 per cent higher than
those of last year, in spite of an Off
year for crops, going to show the re-
suit of the campaign of education cal
ried Oh during the year through the
county superintendent's Office and BY
the teachers Who have caught the
spirit, and also the agricultural posi-
bilities Of eastern Marshall county.
The main object OF the Industrial
contest for Minnesota boys and girls
is to awaken a deeper and more last
ing interest in farm life and the farm
homes and it is needless to say thai
it is doing so to an extent that can
hardly at present be realized.
The interest which it arouses among
the young people for the practica
things Of life cannot but bring then
to better understanding of the dig
nifty Of manual labor and the value O.
Intelligent work. It cannot but hell
them overcome the popular notion
that work at home and On the farm
is but drudgery, and that life On til:
farm is kind of living that shoult
only be for those who are unfit, 70
!, o-caHed higher professions. 1t. can
mot but bring the occupations OF farm
ing and housekeeping up to the plac'
in their estimation, to which by it
4 merits it is properly entitled. In shor
as factor in popularizing farm wor]
!. there is none more powerful than tn
annual contest.
!, Persistently we are told that tn
! common schools are and have bee
+ exerting a mighty though unintentiof
! al influence upon the country childre
drawing them toward the cities, tn
! teacher, the text books and the a
! mosphere Of the class room, all ha,
!. ting city trend. or being devoid 9
: anything suggestive to the scholar
OF farm interests and activities, crk
/. ating an unnatural and evil tendenc
r to overcrowd the cities and the 81
& called learned professions, robbin
rItherebv the country's industries, an
5 chiefly the industry of agriculture,
: the brain and muscle essential to it
8 thrift. Consequently it has becom
( a problem with prominent educator
/. everywhere how to adjust the con
Z mon school system or how to afrang
81 school work SO as to give more tim
and attention to preparing the 80 pt
d cent Of the scholars for their III
8 e|work rather than giving all attentio
). Ito preparing the other 10 per cent +
1.-the academy, the college, the univer
{. lity and eventually professional .lif
5 While awaiting the time when 9
IS the little one-ruom schools can be co