Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-05
RURAL EDUCATION IS
URGED BY HOKE SMITH
Governor-EIeCt Makes Inter-
eSting Address to LowndeS
: School Commissioners
Especial Dispatch to The Journal)

hClAOoi commissioners ~
day. He said in part:
Mr.. SMITHS ADDRESS.
/ cannot too strongly urge the posi-
ibfties for service which the offices you
iii give.
/ New and improved methods are daily
being introduced into industrial pur-
suits and city life
Our city schools, supported by local
taxation. are well equipped for efficient
work and contribute greatly to the prog
ress being made in the cities.
i Our rural schools should seek to &C
complsh the same results for those at
work upon the farms. but the task is
more difficult because the rural schools
depend almost entirely upon contribu-
ton for their support from the state
treasury. and are further handicapped
by the fact that our rural population is
sparse.
FARMS UNLIMITED.
The ideal school system will not exist
until each county through local taxa
tion establishes one system of schools
for the entire county but this condi-
ton will come slowly and the task is
largely on you TO see that progress is
made with the schools an they now exist.
1 wish to make a few practical sug-
gestions for your consideration.
The work of the rural school cannot
be accomplished by mere instruction in
reading, writing. arithmetic, grammar.
geography and history.
The children must be taught those
things that pertain to rural life that
their powers Of observation and creation
may be stimulated with reference to
those things which will be connected
with their future.
/ The rural school house and the rural
home must be brought closer together.
Our rural school teachers must be
aroused and filled with a greater desire
for accomplishment that they may be
able 10 stir the children and cause them
TO long for knowledge and for thorough
preparation for life.
The county school commissioners and
the rural teachers must themselves feel
the deepest interest in rural life and be
ready to acquire and to teach all knowl-
edge possible with reference to 1t If they
are to be successful workers In rural
schools.
1 commend to the county commission
ers the necessity for frequent norman
school meetings among the teachers
At these meetings not only better meth
DDS of teaching the ordinary courses of
study should be considered, but ALL
PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH RU-
RAJ LIFE SHOULD BE STUDIED,
Revolutions are taking place al over the
world in agricultural methods
Those entrusted with the conduct OF our
rural schools should seek TO acquire and
to teach all available knowledge which
viii improve farm conditions throughout
the state.
VALUE OF CORN CLUBS.
wish especially to commend TO your
consideration the value of boys corn
clubs and girls domestic science clubs.
/ You should intensity the interest of
every teacher under your direction in
such work.
wish every white boy and girl in
the rural schools of Georgia would join
these clubs.
The rural teachers under your direction
should encourage and advise the boys
and girls in this work.
The time taken from the ordinary
/ school work for instruction on these
lines will not lessen the proficiency of
the children in their regular school
studies. On the contrary, II will make
them realize that the school house is
preparing them for life and it will stimu-
late to higher effort on the part of the
children in the regular school work.
L believe that the boys acre of cotton
or corn and the special work of the girls
done at home under the leadership of the
rural school teacher will bring better
results than any effort at school gar
den Immediately around the school house.
The use by the rural teacher of
STORIES OF GOOD WORK DONE IN
FARMING AND OF IMPROVED
METHODS AROUND THE HOME, to
be read to the boys and girls and studied
Il. hair md
bring the parents closer TO school work.
II is my purpose to recommend to the
legislature a liberal appropriation tot
State college of Agriculture for extern
sion work among the grown men and
women engaged in farming BY the dis
tributlon of bulletins carrying valuable
information to the grown farmers, I'M
mense good can be accomplished.
The rural school teacher should also
read and study upon these lines. THE
RURAL, SCHOOL TEACHER SHOULD
lBE INFORMED UPON THE PRO
4 GRFSS THAT is BEING MADE IN
i AGRICULTURE and should introduce a
system of reading among the children of
the many Interesting publications now
being made on home hygiene, on poultry
on cooking. on butter making and on
farming generally.
II would be admirable while the father
lis reading at home a bulletin from the
State College Of Agriculture on corn
raising for the teacher 90 read the same
bulletin and explain II to the child at
school. and while the mother is reading
at home a bulletin on some subject con-
nected with her, household responsible
ties for the teacher to read II and explain
it to the girls in school.
RURAL SCHOOL SUPERVISORS.
1t is my purpose to recommend the APP
pointment OF a number of rural school
supervisors TO aid the state school COM
missioner. and TO assist the county school
commissioners in developing the rural
schools.
Nv hope is that these rural school SUI
pervisors. II created. may help you in
your normal schools to teach the teach
ers. May help you to bring the home and
the school house close together and in
tensify the interest in that progress
which can only come when you make
the rural school house TO a large extent
the center of pleasure and instruction
. for parent and child.
With knowledge Of the great opportuni-
" which the soil of Georgia offers 70
those who cultivate It intelligently and
industriously, with knowledge OF the
splendid achievements that are being
made By the most successful farmers of
the state. what a splendid service is open
to you when you realize how greatly
can be increased the number OF the very