Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-01-28
STATE SCHOOL URGED
Opportunities for Agriculture
Should Be Conserved
Campaign Of Education Begun in Wind.
ham County by Mason S. stone and
Editors W. c. Relknap and E. e. Howe.

\ campaign Of education as to the
possibilities Of Vermont. particularly
along agricultural lines and as a summer
resort is being conducted by Mason $
stone of Montpelier state superintendent
Of education, and three meetings, the
first to be held this year, have been con-
Quoted in Windham county this week.
Mr.. stone is assisted by w. G. Belkuap.
editor of the~Bellows Falls Times. and
Frank f. Howe, editor of the Benning
ton Banner The meetings are being held
In the rural communities, and the atten-
dance thus far has been surprisingly
large. The first meeting took place in
the Baptist church in West Halifax Mon
day night, the second in Glen House hall
in Jacksonville Tuesday afternoon and
the third in the Congregational church
In Marlboro Wednesday night I'm each
instance the audience has given close and
appreciative attention.
In speaking of the agricultural posi-
bilities in Vermont Mr.. Stone shows that
New England Is liable to lose its prestige
as simply manufacturing section for
the reason that manufacturers are likely
to seek places of power, coal iron and
raw material and New England will
have to be the pleasure ground Of
the country eventually But in adj
dition to being a part of that pleas
ure ground. Vermont will always be-
son that. among the states. it was
the chief recipient of the rich deposit
OF the glacial period, and on account OF
this wealth bequeathed by nature Yer
mont is capable of remarkable develop
ment provided more Intelligence is APP
piled to the agricultural pursuit In
order that there may be greater in
telligcnce employed it will be necessary
for the state of Vermont to resort to
some means of giving the boys of the
state some opportunities To gain agri-
cultural knowledge. The state agricul-
tural college is not maintained By the
federal government for the purpose OF
making farmers. but for the purpose OF
making experiments and specialties
Hence it cannot be of any great assist
ance toward developing body OF ag-
rculturalists. The high schools are pub
lie institutions. and while their courses
should coerce toward agriculture they
can do nothing more than give the ag-
riculturdl theories with some extra
knowledge along the sciences The. rlr-
mentarN schools can assist the child
more thoroughly with common facts and
phenomena, but they are unable To train
"a body OF agriculturalists as the children
are too immature The only way in
which body of farmers can be develop
cd is 10y the establishment of some. kind
of an agricultural high school with farm.
machine shop, barns. dairy cuuipmruts
ana poultry house attached such a
plant would not simply assist tn. hos. tu
the greatest np.rci,l ,ss., ~ W
Vermont coulb b,y, +, ,..,',t, |
maintained fnr ~. .,i.I.,,,g NO. Nv
MS "A trad. srbool hut ~, I'M, NV I'm
tanned for the purpose of sending bows
back To the farms to develop the agrl-
cultural resources. BY an annual body
oi uaped recruits thu agriculture!
d
doubled
Probably no uepnc, couIJ b..,rt ,,,..
state more than an iustfulfi,, l.,..,t..l
specifically to the dryelourn.u, r .,,4
culturalists 1t is needed a. q ...,.,...il,,.
link between the agricultural colleges
ana the people and would br used Simply
to supplement the splendid s,r,.i,.. .,T il,..
agricultural college. high srhnuI ANA tr,.
elementary schools other -t.,t.s n,,..
rrSOrted to this system and ar,. ,I,.... a.,
beginning to rrau the benefits S,.,,,.. ~,
the states have put uu auri,uItur.I
school into each county The S,utbar,
states have pat 10 into .,,l ,ori.,,I,.,,.,i
district. and in several states s,h,,I.
have been subsidized AppareutIy tInr..
is refluN of the duty but th.. nrn,r-
tunitics for agriculture i'm V.rr,,rt
should he conserved ana should ba ~,
Nealed to those who should com,. Il, s,i.h
opportunities by inheritance. F,rt,--v.,
per cent of the natives of the stat. r.sii,.
"dISide. the largest percentage of non
Oh any state This percentage
'"'u'" 9e ana can be reduced. 70 will
"o' ne reduced uutil some means is en-
pi"Ht" L" ihal '"nd. NJ other institute
10" ca" uIScIoSe 10 the youth the >plru-
az "PpVIl uhliltS better than am ugri-
"'"I HIEH S'hool
MT Belknap speaks I'm regard tn tIa
p"SS'pl'ItIeS IN Vermont ana after discus
S'uE 'he general discomfort with human
nature. which he feels is but natural ns
shows that tlat discomfort can he 'Ilr,.,.
ed proiitaby into channels of advantage.
L" Inc state ana the individual Tl. .,r-
S'rNdIloh OF the forests is going tn
"'N'I"p our material wealth The CON
SefNatlon of the water sources is pniuy
10 olIer possibilities for multitude. or
SI''"H industries and by the development
az small Industries along the streams
villages ana communities are r,frs =,
SprIhs up ana local markets will he of-
lorued Tor the agriculturlst. The trouble
Wltl Vermont is in the fact that the .,.s-
TEN OF school training ana the. futuep,a
oi the home has led the youth to believe
mat the opportunity was far off some
where and the boy mas followed the will
-Wisp. If he could be shawn tho
possibilities right at home in forcst,, iv
manufacture. in trade. in agriculture he
would be more contended to remain u,ith
IN the commonwealth.
Mr.. Pelknap aIso. evnlsi,,s s.,,,,.,,,.,.... 49,.
hard conditions of farm me-. AMI '',' I '''e
the discOuragement and how. tGa no., ','1
work ALLEVIATE the boy Labor ON tL,
farm is NOT made Intelligent ana intarast
ing, but ii is "a grind and a drudoar, M
reason for this state of orfairs Iias in ,'
fact that the work is NOT dom, i,.. 1i'
gently If the boy could he intaras,,,, =,
the nature of the soil ana I'm tb. l.,.i,