The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-01

A
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Their homely joys and destiny OBJ
scure;
Nor Grandeur hear with distainful
smile,
The short and simple annals Of the
poor"
Or the poet Cary:
Those who toll bravely are strongest,
The humble and poor become great,
And so from these brown handed chill
dren
Shall grow mighty rulers Of state"
The Remedies.
now proceed to close with an out
line reference TO the remedies or the
agencies whereby we may secure TO
the country boy square deal, some
of which have already been referred
to, though briefly. TO provide proper
| ly for the physical and mental needs
or the country boy we must relieve
] farm work OF much OF its hard work
lonesomeness, and drudgery. Farming
must be made more profitable. Mater
tal prosperity, to a limited degree at
least, must precede or move hand in
hand with intellectual advancement
When it is more profitable with less
| hard work, 1t will be more healthful
congenial, reputable, and praiseworthy
to work and live upon the farm. In
some cases the. farmer, under the pres
emit system of social and Industrial
ethics, cannot be justly censured for
keeping the boy out Of school to work
long. hard hours. The system requires
1t. But let agriculture be taught IN all
schools, and soon we will have another
race of farmers with their boys that
will be engaged in a more profitable
and healthful occupation than hereto
fore. Add to this courses in our schools
that will give the boy an adequate
understanding of the elementary econ
omic laws and relations, and ability
and willingness to cooperate more ex-
tensively in the marketing OF his pro-
duce and the buying Of his supplies,
and farming will then soon be de-
sirable business for the boy in the
town or country to undertake.
Then no longer will there be group
OF men earning a poor living by hard
work on the farms while another group
earn an easy living by farming the
added to the income Of the farmers by
| the grand, good work that one agri-
| cultural college is doing.
1t Is said that the Society of Equity
has in one year saved more than S.
100000 to the farmers of this state,
and would they all cooperate more
than $30,000,000 could be saved an
nually which now goes into the pockets
of the unnecessary middleman-the
kind that neither spins nor weaves,
but arrays himself and nearest kin in
the purple robes OF fine linen. These
millions distributed among the farm
ers Of the state would mean an In
crease OF thousands OF happy boys In
better equipped schoolhouses, with
better teachers drawing more than
double the salaries now paid. How
ever, we must not walt for this great
ly improved financial condition that is
surely coming.
Much can be done now under pres
emit conditions to secure to the country
boy a square deal in the matter of his
physical and intellectual welfare. and
may add that something is being done.
To secure more and better boys in bet
tar schools, let US more than ever en-
courage and urge the rural resident to
work the boy less. and to pay higher
taxes which average now less than
one-ha1f than that paid by towns sup
porting classified state high schools.
Let us in season and out Of season
preach the good glad gospel of better
schools and better teachers with ten
times the number OF boys in the upper
grades than we now have. Such would
mean compulsory medical inspection
law, and better enforcement Of the
compulsory attendance law. Such
would also mean consolidation OF
schools, when and where feasible. Such
would then mean longer terms, better
teachers q modern school building
with ample play rooms and play
grounds, lecture rooms and reading
rooms, and a high school, where the
country boy might complete standard
high school course while living under
the parental roof, and where he may
be able to prepare himself for efficient
service where that may be In the prac-
tice Of medicine or farming.
Make Special Provision.
Let the city and town school make
special provision for the country boy
whom they so often invite directly and
indirectly when they accept a state
subsidy OF which more than 75 per
cent is paid by the rural taxpayers.
And right here let me say that course
in agriculture could be pursued with
profit by the city girl or boy In order
that they might know something of
the possibilities OF this field Of endeav-
or when selecting a calling. besides Ii
would make them less provincial and
more democratic. The best lecturers
from our higher institutions OF learn-
ing might well spend more OF their
time IN our country scheDlhouscs lee
turing on art and travel, literary and
historic themes; and incidentally GET
ting acquainted with the rural tax
payer who pays the major portion Of
their salaries, There they could Ana
audiences that In point Of earnestness,
appreciation and per cent OF attend
ance would be much greater than In
most cities where the ysometimes feel
that they have been talked to death.
All state schools or institutions
might also provide short courses OF six
and twelve weeks during the winter
months to which should be invited the
country boy who Is unable to find this
opportunity any nearer, and the older
brothers should also be invited to see
and hear the good things This would
be vastly more beneficial than trip
to Chicago to see the stockyards and
the mailorder houses. In many places
All entirely new kind OF teacher il
Eeeded. The teacher needs d greater
fund OF academic and professional