The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-15

supplement to the work Of the Wo-
mems betterment associations. Driv-
ing through one of the little villages
where the school house was surround
ed by 10 acres Of land. the construc-
tive mind Of the superintendent con-
ceived a vital use for it; curiously
enough the seller of the property
would not take any less for the de-
sired -four acres than for 10, and the
authorities of the school district Sc
cured six acres more than they need
ed. The idea Of the school farm was
born then, and Immediately suggested
to the local Women's betterment as
SoclatlOn. The county president of
this association has expressed it's aim
Ito beautify and make hOmelike and
sanitary, the place where the children
spend at least six hours of every
school day, to aid in meeting the more
fundamental needs-longer school
terms, increased salaries to the teach
ers, better attendance, pure water on
school grounds, the health of the chill
dren, the purchase Of pianos, and the
introduction Of domestic science" The
school farm fitted in nicely with his
educational creed, was adopte and
became an instant success. It has
added vitality to the betterment work
become a militant factor for eff
fciency all along the line. The first
school farm brought not only the older
children, but men and women into a
closer communion for the mutual in
terchange of ideas and created a new
enthusiasm. They came with mules
and plows and hoes and rakes, at
the call of the superintendent Casually
the best farmer in the vicinity to
smite the earth with a new lea that
has begun to spread in a constantly
widening circle of beneficent useful
ness. There is a photograph Of the
W0mpn@S hPttprr Qnt association OF
Holly Springs showing over a score
of them, with hoes in hand, chop
ping the cotton field of the school
farm, illustrating what women can do
with no loss Of the essential and ad-
mirable qualities of their Sex. The
a profit Of $128.2S.
Money is but a small measure Of
the usefulness Of the school farm;
its greatest asset is the spiritual and
social uplift it has given-and in fact
this story cannot include all it's multi
started Wake county has been living
quite up to it's name. Eighteen farms
have grown from this one, embracing
a total Of 80 acres, and on nearly all
of them cotton has been raised. Inc
people have christened their gather
ings "the school-farm working bees
and when the work of many hands
is finished, glowing with the spirit
Of enthusiasm born of their efforts,
they have a real old-fashioned good
time-enticing feasts, barbecues. fried
chicken, and all the delicacies Of a
region where rural cooklns possesses
the maximum of delight. There are
games Of baseball, singing, athletic
isports-and a general exchange OF
opinions as to the best expression OF
the idea Of "betteTment.'
The human metal is at a point OF
1 fusion at such times, and they listen
receptively to suggested reforms. II
opportunity-and things have beer
done. The idea Of school conso1ida-
ton, for example, had never been
popular. But since it afforded a unity
Of resources, exchanging a forlorI
school house, for a three-room struc-
ture with modern co~nveniences, the
blow for reform was struck sure anc
strong at the working bees"-ano
won. Only a few years g 'schOo
houses cost only between $500 anC
$500; now the cheapest cost over ST..
500. and others several thousand dol
lars. During the last year or two the
profits of the school farms ave some
once the entire appropriation Of the
: school district itself. Last year the
profits were s1,19O. which has beer
expended for the beneft OF the com
munitieS Immediately enVlrOnlng tnt
, school. A most valuable factor arisins
from the school farm is the spirit o
educational democracy It has awaken
ed. 1t is certainly an unprecedented
experience to have the civic supper
!, of public schools Outrun by the Civ
= ing Of work and funds by the in
Idividual citizenship of the community
+ In six years the people Of Wake coun
| ty have given an mount equaling thu
. budget for one years operation o
! all the schools in the county.
! ."Any institution to live" says thi
county superintendent, must be bull
upon fundamental, atura laws. TIL
, school farm is thus unded H
q tells many enlivening stories of tn
upbuilding of this new idea of his, am
they are instructive of his name o