Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-25
RELATING THE SCHOOL AND HOME

There has been much discussion reIa-
tive 20 reorganiEe. our public schools,
and particularly those situated in the
rural districts. The belief has been cur
rent for some time that these Institutions
are not related TO the life Of the COM
munlty. and 10 that extent are falling
OF the purpose for which they were es-
tablished. Tne point IS constantly made
that the boy and girl Is not taught 70
understand anything OF his environments
al conditions. and on this account tends
70 drift away from the country 10 the
city. There Is probably much tru1h in this
assertion. for on many farms where ohso-
lete methods are still pursued and bare
living obtained from the soil ~ almost
Saiperhuman' effort. there + little 10 en-
courage or inspire youthful ambitions
II IS unfortunate that this should be the
case. for as a result. the most energet-
ic portion OF the rural population drifts
into the city where IL believes larger
opportunity awaits Il This robbing OF
the country for the benefit OF the city
constitutes a menace 10 our national
prosperity, for IL has now been shown
that where scientific methods are applied
70 farm practice. the unworked and unap-
preciated gold mine which our soils con-
stitnte may. be made 10 produce two to
four times rs much as has ever been
secured up 70 this time. Naturally when
production Is quadrupled or even dou-
bled. there Is a distinct profit from farm
Ing. and IL becomes an attractive and in
teresting vocation.
The problem Of the school APP
parently. Therefore Is 20 relate
its work TO that Of the home
and the farm so as 70 instruct and
inspire the youthful mind OF both boy
and girl concerning what should natural
" be their life work II IS needless 20
say that interest is Immediately aroused
IN any subject when its possibilities for
development and opportunity are made
clear 10 the mind In no class OF hu-
man beings Is the thirst for knowledge
or the desire for achievement 50 great
as in that OF the rapidly growing boy
and girl. Hence. IL il may be success
fuly pointed out 70 them that they may
regenerate farm practice and become IN
dependent leaders in their community.
nNding wealth and power to their re-
spective states. farm life. viii appeal 70
them most Intensely. For q long time ef-
fort has been expended IN trying TO de-
wise a scheme OF agricultural instruction
for our public schools. Much time has
been devoted TO the pedagogy and psy-
chology OF the subject SIaborate and
systematic courses OF instruction have
been devised and text books prepared.
Unfortunately. these things have not APP
pealed 10 the school teacher. nor the
child and parent as they should nave. II
is not surprising. however. that this
should have been the case. for it Is a
clear example OF placing the cart before
the horse II IS not possible for people
or community TO appreciate something
which they have not studied. and can
not therefore readily comprehend: hence
the reason for SO little progress I'M re-
directing the work OF the rural school as
1t relates 20 home and farm develop
r4e,fs Dess sn4 a"tfs~esl@s as
Fortunately. a newer and better plan
has been developed, and Is now being
worked out in Georgia with phenomenal
success. II Is that OF emphasizing one
truth in the school and having the work
carried out at home. Special emphasis
Is laid in this connection on the work
OF the Boys Corn clubs and the Girls
Industrial clubs. This work has been
IA association with the county school
commissioners and the teachers. The
work of organization has been compar-
atively simple In that the boys and
girls in every school have been encour-
aged TO join one Of the clubs. Rules,
regulations and general information are
supplied from the college in printed form.
Each boy Is required 20 grow an acre
Of corn. and each girl one-tenth Of an
acre OF tomatoes OF such other crop as
she may desire TO work with. Both boys
and girls are encouraged TO keep poul-
try and have live stock for pets.
The result Of the work OF the Boys
Corn clubs has been far-reaching. When
the idea was first preached in many
schools and carried TO the home where
the work must OF necessity and advis-
edly be done. fathers and in some in
stances. mothers. opposed the plan
They did not see how it was possible
for the boy TO plant. care for and har-
vest an acre OF corn. The father was
opposed 70 giving up a piece OF land
for this purpose. Many a boy prevailed
against fearful odds in his initial IN
dertakfng and how wei some OF them
succeeded is now history: though il is
proper 10 repeat here that IL boys ex-
nibiting corn at Macon made an aver
age yield OF 81 bushels per acre, or six
dimes the average amount raised By
the adult farmers OF Georgia The corn
club movement with its splendid results
was started through the school. the
IDEAS and Suggestions emanating from
the college and transmitted through the
teacher have reached the parent The
boy Il naturally elated that he should
have grown from two to five times as
much corn as his father. The father,
dIIed with incredulity in the beginning
has come to respect and appreciate the
POSSIBLE % outline these satisfactorily