The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-07
Starting Right at the
Beginning; Practical
w orkings Of Idea.
PROBLEM THAT
CONFRONTS US
How How to Feed 2oo,ooo,ooo Peo-
ple-country Must Do More
and Better Farming Make
the Plow More Attractive
and More Profit 4.
able.
ny zEBULoN VANCE JUDD.
superintendcnt OF Schools, Wake Coun

ny ZEDULoN VANCE JUDD,
Superintendcnt OF Schools, Wake Coun-
James J. Hill, III his Highways OF
4 Progress, asserts that "thc country
IS approaching the Inevitable advent of
j a population of one hundred and fifty
70 Two hundred millions Within the
lifetime OF those now grown to mans
estate. with potential food supply
that falls as the draft upon IT adj
vances lie then pcrtincntly asks:
i1ow arc these people to be fedg" :,
situation so icrseIy put by Mir. Fill
becomes more intensified when we re-
can thai during the last decade. while
inc population OF the United States
increased some fifteen millions. thIs In
crease Was almost entirely limited TO
the cities Many farming sections
actually lost. The answer 10 Mr.. fiiIIs
question Involves the solution or two
problems. viz: First. how 10 Improve
methods of farming; second how 20
Improve the conditions under which
the farmers live, thereby holding a
larger number or our people to The
farms.
If, Az Mr.. illi Indicates. farming Is
not only the biggest OF all industries,
engaging the activities OF more than
% per cent. OF our people, but is also
K the most common mode or living then
all people. .,y and country alike, 10
be roundly educated should know
something OF farming.
81 However this may he, IL is ilnpcr-
alive that those people who live on
the farm and make their living by
farming should know better how 10
prosecute their dnily vocn tion in order
that they may increase the annual out
put from tho r farms, that they mr.
ia, xt,.r f,F
and inHuries ami that they may find
happiners In a enriched rural life. IL
is iniperati I've, therefore. that -poun t. y
children be taught not merely a gricul-
ture. but farming, winch ircludcs the
science OF agriculture and the agricul-
.sturists mode OF living. III
&c: In Begin RiHht.
tAEricultural instruction on college
lerci Is nov fairly well provided for
all no have the aspiration, the means
and the opportunity 10 obtain it: hut
only a very small percentage OF our
.iermcr boys ever reach college. and
v men they do artificial and false stand
ards OF worth frequently defect them
into the professions. Many OF The
city high schools and Il fcw OF The
recently created rural high schools are
nov ohering specific training 10 all
Iisho succeed in getting that far IN
their educa ton. hut the college. and
even the high school, IS. for the most
part. FAR removed from the masses OF
The people, where the courses of in
. struction might be influenced by the
needs and wants OF tho people, and
whcrc the people. outside OF the small
group enrolled as pupils in the schools,
might be reached and influenced By
the school. The school. 10 be OF
greater service, mist stand at "a point
where these interacting forces may
have fun play.
In education at least, there has as
se. been invented no system OF wire
lcas telegraphy whereby the wants
4of the people can be made known to
1.-THE school al long distance. TO the end
that ,he school may form. its cur
riculum and shape its policies TO
supply those needs. t
The conviction deepens that the real
problem OF education is SO to analyze
that they may be turned to account,
and made the means of education.
M The elementary school. therefore,
seems TO DO the place where the great
battle With agricultural ignorance
must be fought out. and where the
q impetus must be received that will
carry the boys and girls up through
eager for adaptable informa ton that
Will enable them to find contentment,
happiness, health and prosperity in
comfortable rural homes.
The School Farm.
;aq 1t has often been said that in the
scheme of education there is an ex-
ception to the general rule that life
+ flows from the ground upward. and
that here influence goes from the COL
gleges and universities downward. Be
this as It may, we are confronted with
the fact that the great majority of
our people never reach the college, to
say nothing of graduating or even
entering the high school. In Wake
county. which I suppose is about an
+ average county in North Carolina.
there were enrolled 5.62S white chill
dren, of which number only 400 were
in the seventh grade, and only 246 In
the high school grades. The eolored
race made even a poorer showing.
Here the enrolment in the seventh
grade was TO- Only 12 were enrolled
I in the eighth grade, and none above.
It would be we'll, therefore. to con-
slider In our educational policies some
measures whereby the children of all
X The people may be touched and quick
Bened in such a way that more of them
will aspire to pursue higher courses
Of instruction, and with a moro
definite notion as to what end they
will use this higher instruction. gain,
SO that those who may not continue
I'm school may receive some definite
henefit from the few years they do
Z attend. Again, for our people ON the
farms we must consider some measures
u VIII ereby study and learning Will not
end with school days. With profess
sional men there is a continuation of
study throughout their career That
+ institution which would be Of greatest
service, to the country people must
embrace all the; people of the com
/ anuntty from childhood to old age,
n Continued on Last Page.)