The Green Forest tribune., 1910-01-07
THE BOY ON FARM
Backbone of American Manhood First Needs Training in Fundamental
 Branches of Learning.


 In the past ten years there has been a strong movement on the part of ru- ral schools to educate farm children Tn the direction of farming, teaching them the things closely related to their daily life, says Journal of Agri- culture. The movement has been slow. but the growth has been sure and now promises much actual good The study of the elements of agriculture, with all of the allied branches, is now pursued in nearly all of the rural schools of every state in the union. in more or less definite way.
 The coming years will see it more systematized and efficient in it's work ings. This will lead children of the farm to higher plane of living and bring them into love and harmony with their surroundings.
 The farm boy is the backbone of American manhood That has been said before. Yet the farm boy as a rule at manhood wishes to leave the royal path which has made him what he is.
 What are the reasons for this?
 The main reason is that he sees men in other walks of life doing greater things than his father has done and greater things than he thinks he shall be able to do if he re- mains on the farm.
 Another and vital reason is that ey- cry boy possesses instinct, not easily controlled, to move out into the larger and wider world to see and to conquer new things and to establish new home where the family tribe will not become effete with overcrowding and inbreeding
 The education of the past has been 1n the direction of the so-called "pro- fessions" ministry, law and medi- cine. The farm boy had no chance to develop high mentality and efficiency along tne lines of farming For this reason the best boys have left the farm and gone into fields where they could assert their powers and do things that the world would recognize.
 There have been some wonderful inventions in the line of farm imple- ments and general farm equipment, but 1t is fact that the selfbinder, Babcock tester, corn husker and other farm machinery of note were invented and introduced by men not in the farming business. It would naturally seem that the farmer himself would be the man to see the need of better machines and devices for farming, but such in the main has not been the case. Improvements in farming hay not come from farmers because farm boys have not been educated in those things which enabled them to investi- gate and execute in the right direction.
 Agricultural colleges, like our own Missouri college, are beginning the right education for farm boys and girls, and with time it is hoped that they will completely solve the problem and teach things that will educate to- ward the farm rather than away from the farm.
 The farm boy needs first of all an education in the fundamental branches oA iV"lili +S Ip 6ANe AiLu pTodu general lmowledge. and then special training along lines that will make him capable 4f doing valuable things ir large way on the farm with plants, animals, machinery ana the many things which directly influence country living both from the family and the community standpoint.
 If the boy is taught how he may do big things on the farm he will want to stay on the farm and do them.