The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-12-01
EDUCATION FOR
COUNTRY LIFE
TEACHERS OF WHITMAN COUNTY
WORKING FOR BETTER
RURAL CONDITIONS.


by the greatest number of teachers |
ever assembled in Whitman county. !
The records show that 352 teachers
are employed in the county, and only
two were excused from attending the |
thirty-first annual Whitman County
Teachers Institute which was held
in this city on Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday. The visitors began to
arrive Saturday and every incoming
train on Sunday and Monday
brought it's quota. Several people
who are not teaching at the present
time were in attendance at the insti-
tute bringing the registration up to
375.
AS usual the ladies outnumbered
the gentlemen almost exactly three
to one. Because of the increased
number of pupils attending school
the number of teachers in the coun-
ty has been increased by "a over last
year.
The capacity of the new and com
modious high school building was
taxed beyond the limit of comfort at
every session. The people of the
city very kindly opened their homes
and all the visitors found comfort
able places to sleep. Every eating
place in the city was crowded and the
late comers were compelled to spend
much time in waiting before they
could get seats at the tables. But
the teachers are an optomistic crowd
and overlooked the small discom-
forts and thoroughly enjoyed their
stay in the city.
Washington is the birthplace of
just 46 of the people who are teach
ing in the county. A count showed
that over 200 of the teachers were
born east of the Mississippi river
Another interesting feature not on
the program was the ballot for presi-
Dental preference. The result
showed LaFollette 10 be in the lead.
The reception Monday evening
rendered by the teachers of Colfax to
the visitors was get together So
cial affair which was hugely enjoyed
by the large number in attendance.
Principal S. T. Freer of the high
school was master of ceremonies ably
assisted by the reception committee
consisting of the entire COlfaX teach
ing corps. The evenings entertain
ment opened with vocal solos by Miss
Buxbaum, Dan Welty and Assistant
Superintendent Phillips. Miss Mary
Wyman gave an instrumental solo.
The address Of welcome was given by
S. M McCroSkey, a former county
superintendent and almost lifelong
school worker in Whitman county.
Later cards and pencils were passed
among the guests and an autograph
gathering scheme furnished enter
tainment for an hour or two. Punch
and waters were served by the lady
teachers of the high school in the
dining room of the domestic science
department.
Several solos by prominent muSl-
clans through the different sessions
of the institute livened the hours of
work Among the soloistS were Miss
Laura Mitchell of Pullman, Miss
Catherine Buxbaum of COlfaX. Mrs.
May Tuffree of Cheney and A. w.
Phillips of Colfax.
Superintendent J. o. Mattoon de-
Clares that as whole the county has
an exceptionally strong class of
teachers Many of the teachers. al
though graduates of normal schools
and colleges. spend their vacations
al summer schools improving them
selves for their chosen profession
Interest in the work was specially
good at this institute.
Country Life Problem.
Prof. F. o. Kreager, head of the
department Of elementary science at
the State college, gave strong lee
ture on the Country life problem be-
fore the rural section of the institute.
Professor Kreager is devoting almost
his entire time TO work along this
line. In talking on this subject he
said in part:
The country life movement is
taken on three lines. First. more
productive agriculture. Second. agri-
culture must be business, cO-opera-
tive work on business lines. Third,
living in the country or the country
as a place of residence.
Scientific agriculture was not
needed in the past because OF the
cheap, fertile lands. In the early
days practically all of the inhabitants
of the United States lived in the
country and were producers, only
three per cent living in the cities.
Today ii is different for only 33 per
cent of the people are engaged in
agriculture and these must produce
the food for the remaining 81 per
cent who are engaged in other work.
1t is very evident the farmer must
produce more.
There are several reasons why
scientific agriculture must be adopt
ed. First, the population of the
country is increasing rapidly. At the
present rate of increase it will double
every 30 years. There is practically
no free land left. Farming must be
carried on in the same territory
which it occupies at the present time. |
We must produce more on the land
now under cultivation Land in the
future will be high and to make 1t a |
paying investment it must be made |
to produce more. In England. where |
the land has been producing for hun |
dreds of years the average yield of |
wheat is S3 bushels TO the acre. In |
the United States on fertile and COM |
Daratively new soil the average yield |
is only IA bushels to the acre. !