The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-06

husbands and o n are milking the
cows. bedding the horses, and doing
the rest of the chores. They wear
overal!s so many hours Of the week
n they are not entirely at ease in
other clothes. They are too tired to
keep up their interest in the outside
world. frequently falling to sleep over
the newspaper. Indeed. to bed is
about the only place this exhausted
man Of the early evening is fit to go.
Tor q tired man is not a social crea-
ture.
Washing dishes after a late supper
with a noddtng husband in the next
room and your nearest neighbor from
a quarter to a mile away does not
foster love for the Farm. 1t need not
be wondered at that we are insisting
that the farm day must be shortened
and some time be given to the devel-
opment of the mental and spiritual,
as we'll as the physical side Of the
family.
You may remember how the little
waif. Glory Mcguire. as she looked
through h windows at rich chill.
dren's parties use to lament: "Oh, the
good times going on in the world. and
me not in them!" We farmers wives
want some of the good times that are
going on IN the world for our chill.
dren: we want a social center: q club
room where neighborhood gatherings
can be held. We want a neighborhood
library. a live church and an up to
date school. II children are to be
more than little animals. they must
go to church and Sabbath school; they
must have a we'll ventilated, we'll
lighted school room and an experi-
enced teacher.
Men and women Of mature judy
ment are placed at the head Of town
choois where suitable courses Of in.
struction and the most approved meth
DDS are pursued. The graded school
teacher refers any case of insubor-
dination.. any report Of vulgarity, any
question Of discipline, TO her superin,
tendent. yet these same teachers haze
been required to take months of train
ing n practice on country pupils be-
tore they we're permitted to teach In
town under a superintendent.
The country school should have
trained teachers: teachers Of sound
Judgment in understanding the nature
Of the child and tast in dealing with
him. A live. progressive teacher in
every country neighborhood is often
n little leaven which '~'leaveneth the
whole lump" We need fewer classes
in m country schools: the long study
periods are productive Of inattention
ana mischief: II a child is permitted
to spend his study time in idling and
reading inferior fiction. he loses the
power OF concentration on his lessons
and his taste for solid reading.
We need a well selected library
planned for systematic reading; w
need recitation benches and desks
which will not produce spinal trou.
hles. We need attractive school rooms
better furniture. good pictures and in.
structive maps Part Of the return,
Of n farm invested in the school Il
one OF the farmers best Investments
for all the improvements in the con.
dition OF larm life must come through
education. Many helpful innovations
on the farm nave come about through
q discussion of what the child learned
at school.
We also need better playground
facilities. Thousands of country chill,
dren don't know how to play. Wher
they are at school there is nothinl
to PLAY with: when they are at home
there are chores, unendine chores I,
be done.
There is work right here for countr,
women's clubs to do in supplying tn.
school grounds with tennis, crouuet
nd any other equally wholesome and
good sports which children can enjoy
Hence we must plan to meet and dis
cuss u mutual problems. We neef
the stimulating influence which a.
exchange of ideas and the enthusiast
cooperation of club membershiI
brings. We can accomplish much b,
the concerted effort which can onl,
follow a reasonable getting togetheI
) on the part of the farmers wives
Working the handle OF q dry puml
!. won't bring Pesults that Z little. prim
: Ing brings. Women won't attend