The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-08-25
Report of State Farmers Union
Educational Committee.


We, your committee on educa-
ton, beg to submit the following
report.
Notwithstanding the fact that
North Carolina is.one of the orig
inal thirteen colonies, yet we
note with regret that we are far
behind some of the younger States
in the development OF our re-
sources, especially our agricul-
ture. Our swamp lands remain
undrained; our piedmont hillsides
are dotted with unsightly gullies;
our mountain section has lost I'M
toldwealth by the wanton destruc-
ton of it's valuable timber. Eighty
per cent of our people are living
upon the farms, yet only a small
per cent know anything about
their own soil condition, needs of
different crops, ETC., thereby
failing to have the essentials
necessary to the full development
of a high order Of citizenship.
We believe that a better knowl-
edge of the practical science of
agriculture on the part of the
great masses of people living in
the rural districts will not only
add comfort to happiness in all
of the now desolate homes, but
will also add untold wealth to our
grand old commonwealth.
Those communities and those
States that have given their
children special education for
farm life are living in the most
comfort, are making the best
crops, are best developing and
conserving their resources. and
are at the same time rearing a
most contentedand useful citizen
ship. In the light of what is
being done in other States, anC
from a careful study of our owr
needs and from thoughtful con
sideration of our present educa
tional requirements, we are con
vinced of the necessity of specif
ically training our children TO
farm life. Along with theil
general education, these children
should be taught how to kee
their homes sanitary and beauti
full, how to manage their house
holds, and how to cooperate wit
one another in marketing crop
and in getting full value for thei
products. If they are taugt
these essentials, they will be er
abled from their farms to mex
the growing demands Of ever II
creasing population and to liy
with a full measure of comfor
Therefore, to begin the fulfil
ment of these ends, we recon
mend the following plan:
l. That we urge the enforc
ment of the present State la
requiring agriculture to be taug
in the common schools, and tn
this be done with the best pc
sible facilities. To accompli:
this important step, we recol
mend:
First. That each county Uni
appoint standing committee
forceful men to cooperate Wi
the county superintendent
education in seeing that this
faithfully done.
Second. That our State Unio
through an educational commits
cooperate with the State Supe
intendent of Pnblic Instruct
in furthering this end and
devislng practical means
making the teaching most e
Gent.
Third. That if it be necessal
we will ask that the time allot-
to some other subjects be curt;
ed in order that our childl
may be instructed in the Occur
ton which the majority of tn
are to follow either intelligen
or unintelligently- intelliger
if they are trained, unintellige
ly if they are unprepared.
Fourth. We also recomm
that in connection with the lar
schools small demonstration ia
or gardens be cultivated foi
tructive purposes.
2. We urge that, as in acc
ance with recent State law
raj high schools have been
are being organized in the v
Gus counties, at least one of tt
schools be set apart in coup
meeting the required condit
as a county high school for fl
life instruction in conjunc
with other high school work.
further urge that the follo1
things be done in the school
RI - L.