The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-01
state now. and some have not the
training indicated here either.
Must Have More Men.

training indicated here either.
Must Have More Men.
We must have more men in our rural
| schools, men Of force learning and
character The state would do well
to provide for the education OF, say
| 100 men each year In our state schools
at state expense, with the obligation
| on their part to teach for at least FIVE
years in elementary schools. The ma
! tion provides the funds for the educa-
ton Of several hundred young men
| each year i'm the art OF war on land
and sea- Thus ii would seem that the
state would be justified In providing
fraction of such funds to educate
men for the arts of peace in the coun-
| try life of the state. 1t seems improb-
| able that men can ever be induced in
any numbers to take up this work I'M
less a scheme of this kind Is carried
| out Then the state should have more
supervisors or advisors on rural pro-
blems. County superintendent ought
to have more time In order that they
might be in a larger degree the big
brother or big sister. the prophet seer
and guardian angel for the country
boy.
One man is at least each commits
sioner's district cooperating with the
county superintendent and represent
ing the. state, getting acquainted with
each and every boy, teaching in the
schools. organizing camping, hunting.
end scouting expeditions, would be-
come q power for social. physical,
mental and moral uplift that would
pay the state many fold in the quality
| of its future citizens. Then when nee
essary the compulsory law ought to be
enforced and IL not sufficient to pro-
tect the boy In his rights, then enact
one that will. If parents be too poor
to keep him In school, then the state
ought to supplement the fund of the
| family income The boy is educated
for the state. Thus 1t looks q little
less like charity and more like justice
to take this sum from the Golfers of a
great rich state than to wiring 1t out
Of the blasted hopes and the broken
body of boy under is.
How shall we meet the moral ques-
ton? To avoid employing laborers
from the dives and slums, let the farm
ers diversity In their farming activities
more extensively, SO that more work
in part at least may be distributed
over the year. IL all state high schools
and other state educational institutions
would open not earlier than oct. Is.
and close month in spring, some 5000
young people would be at liberty 10
assist in planting and harvesting the
crops. Most OF them would assist di-
rectly, and 1t would give them SPLEEN
did opportunity to engage in healthful,
necessary and profitable work, and
| they would soon be returning with
another 5000 or 10000. Then let the
churches and public schools turn their
spare rooms into reading rooms and
recreation rooms for the young people
| in their town and adjoining country,
or let the women's clubs unite to build
or rent and maintain such rooms, and
the poolroom problem is solved. Thus
the country boy, including the town
boy will be saved from much that is
evil and debasing and then whatever
else we do to preserve the moral life
of the boy, let only the men and wo-
men, clean in speech and habits, of the
highest ideals and the best character,
be permitted to instruct the youth.
Something Being Done.
Finally: wourd not have anyone
leave here with the impression that
nothing is being done to save to us the
country boy. For such is not the case.
Witness the activities Of some county
and city superintendent, city and
village principals, and state institu-
tions In organizing corn growing con-
tests, athletic and declamatory con-
tests, Institutes, new courses of study,
art exhibits, etc. and extensive lecture
wxyf+,.ae,e F.ax4I.nv@ I,a fas1f thar
the state has already provided special
aid to rural and graded schools doing
better grade work than the ordinary
school that courses In rural studies
have organized In our best normal
schools. colleges, and universities, that
Country Life commission appointed by
Roosevelt made report to congress-
that congresses on country life and
allied subjects have been In session
the past year, that the ablest men and
women In our country are giving the
subject Of country life and its problems
no little thought and study. But there
Is much more to be done. a beginning
has only been made. A great field Is
yet to be explored and reclaimed. Thus
the call lis to the wisest Of the wise TO
push the fight not only 10 the very
gates but within the wallis Of greed,
avarice. and ignorance 70 the end that
the country boy shall be saved from
life Of inefticiency, degradation and
hopeless despair to q life wherein al
shall know that whether he makes
good living on the farm to enjoy life
there or elsewhere. 1t has been wisely
and freely chosen because he had the
necessary leisure and training when a
boy on the farm. And not In the too
distant future, ask you to look upon
the new country boy Behold him re-
constructed I'M his ideas and ideals of
life and its possibilities. Behold him
re- invested with all the worthy priv
IiIeges and prerogatives ef innocent
boyhood. Behold him enthroned In the
best desires and highest affections Of d
great commonwealth alive TO it, duties
and responsibilities. Behold him re-
created In the image OF his Maker.
walking upright IN body and thinking
keen In mind MS was ordained In the
beginning Of things. Behold him safe
guarded tn his moral life In childhood