The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-21
10D|SCUSSCOUNTRY
life PLANS
MEETING TO BE HELD At sPo.
KANE NOVEMBER n FOR
THAT PURPOSE
Basis Will Be Plans Prepared by the
Country Life Commission Appointed
by Governor Hay Year Aso-Presi.
dent David Brown Discusses Work
Of Commission.

OF Commission.
Spokane, Wash, Oct. 17.-Ranchers
business men and educators from vari-
GUS parts of the Northwestern and Pa
cific states will meet in Spokane on
November II, to discuss plans pre-
pared by the Country Life Commission
of Washington for the establishment
of redirected rural schools and COM
munity centers. This is the initial step
of nationwide movement, co-opera-
tive with the state departments of
education, to teach the fundamental
principles of agricultural and domestic
economy and manual and industrial
training.
David Brown, of Spokane, chairman
of the state commission, appointed by
Governor Hay year ago, announces
that the plans prepared for a model
community center include CONSOLE
dated country school, with curricu-
lum that will be far in advance of the
present rural school idea by teaching
the practical things of modern life.
Primarily, the school is for the av-
erage boy, whose institutional educa-
ton ends even before he finishes the
secondary school," Mr.. Brown said,
while another purpose is to solve the
problem, perhaps the greatest before
the country today, of restoring the
balance between rural and urban pop
ulation. It is back to the farm
movement in every sense of the term.
"The keynote is that the best de-
tense against misfortune is to give
every child in the country such educa-
ton that it will be able to earn it's
own living on a piece of land, if neces-
sary, when it reaches its majority. 1t
is also purposed to urge the people of
the open country to work together,
not merely with view to forwarding
their economic interests or in compel
to develop themselves and establish a
real neighborly interest and an effect
i've community spirit.
students of affairs believe the time
is at hand when every child in the
United States should learn how to earn
his living on plot of ground, as well
as being taught the principles of liv-
ing This necessity is becoming more
apparent every day. The entire coun-
try is alive with educational activity.
Ignorance of farming and inertia have
become SO widespread and so heavy
as to constitute a national menace.
It is the result of neglected agricul-
ture and the decline of farming in
terest."
Mr.. Brown said that the chief aim
of the. conference in Spokane. during
the week of the third National Ap-
pie Show, when growers from many
districts in the United States and
Canada are assembled, is to arouse
intelligent public sentiment in a plan
to make farm life so attractive that
the average boy and girl will have no
desire to rush to the city, also to at
tract more city jewellers to the farm.
The country life school plant is de
signed to occupy ten acres OF land. 1t
will be formed by consolidating num-
Der of schools, taking In an area OF
thirty-six square miles, which will
make the most distant point from the
school about three miles. In addition
to the school building there will be q
cottage for the principal. athletic and
picnic groves, models of good roads
and irrigating plants and orchard and
farm plots.
1.-THE teachers will be men and wom-
en- with red blood in their VEINS" Mr..
Brown added, "and able to adapt
themselves to the high ideals OF q
center and school Of the type outlined,
rather than technical education. The
school will be in charge Of a principal,
who has been educated in practical
agricultural as well as advanced school
studies.
Thousands Of letters have been re-
ceived by the commission from prac-
tically every state in the Union, and
we have reasons to believe that this
rural education movement will meet
with favor in the larger cities as well
as In the country districts, as every
citizen must be interested In main
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