Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-07
BOYS 1uDcNe CoM AT BlAlRo

grown from an organization Of 700 boys and girls
IN 1908 to an active membership of over 10000.
Twenty-seyen counties conducted boys and girls
contests last fall, and, at their institute meetings.
had total attendance Of $685.. The total cost to
the Farmers institute fund was $1067.S3. which
was S39.54 per county or a cost of 10 cents per
person. To E. c. Bishop, the present state superin-
tendent of public instruction is due the credit OF
starting this movement In an article prepared
for the National Association of Farmers institute
Workers. Mr. Bishop states;
.sThe work OF the boys and girls industrial in
stitutes is an outgrowth Of the idea that all edu-
cation does not come from books. and that there
has been continued cry against the inefficiency
of the public school system that it does not fit the
how and girl to enjoy the activities of the farm and
the home which the great majority are destined
to follow as their life work.
This work is at present directed by county or
Ranizations and the plan is to have the boys ana
girls work with the practical problems OF the farm
and the home such corn growing potato rals-
ing, manual training, cooking and sewing The
State Department of Public Instruction has directed
the organization of the county associations and the
University Department of Farmers Institutes mas
sent out the speakers and judges at the time of the
contests both departments cooperating in
issuing publications for the promotion of the work
II may he truthfuly said that no special effort has
been made to encourage counties to take up TINS
work as there were no funds provided, and the
small amount of money which has been used was
drawn from the institute fund and the state
Board of Agriculture.
During the present season the Nebraska
Farmer and Twentieth Century Farmer viii help
ont this work by each furnishing bulletin. A
great many county superntendents have been anx-
ious to take up work of this kind, but were hin
dered from starting the work from lack of knowl-
edge Of how to organize and conduct 1t. If an or
ganizer had been employed, as the case at the
onening Of the present season, 10000 Nebraska
BOYS and girls would be enlisted in the movement
Many fathers and mothers have been benefited by
the instruction and knowledge their sons and
daughters have gained during their work in these
associations The result has been the introduction
Of newer improved types Of corn on many farms
which would not otherwise have been reached. A
great number Of and valuable recipes, which
change the methods of plain cooking, are being
practiced in homes a result OF the daughters
work in the Domestic Science association.
This work is deserving OF definite appropria-
ton. 1t needs encouragement These boys and
girls need bulletins written especially for their ben
eft to direct them In the study and practice of the
things taken up. There many phases of agri-
culture and domestic science work which can be
adapted to their contests. Contests In growing
model gardens, small fruit plantations and flower
gardens and many other lines of horticultural work
could be taken up by the young people, If only a
director who understands organization methods and
the carrying out of simple plans assigned to
this work. There many of the field crops
which could be used contest work for the boys;