The Detroit times., 1911-11-03
COUNTRY CHURCHES AND
SCHOOLS SUFFER MUCH
Continued from Page O.e

we never thought till recently that we
would have anyone in America who
was poor. Even now our poor do not
wear rags nor beg. But they are no
less striking in character; the poor III
this country are they who do not own
productive land or tools. II is amazing
TO think that in this country where so
recently the land was given away 10
homesteaders. four farmers out OF
every ten are renters.
This condition is most impressive
when one observes, according 10 the
census, that the proportions OF the
poor are greatest on the richest iano,
and there those proportions are In
creasIng the most rapidly. so far as
we here could agree on remedy,
there IL none, within our hieumes'
II becomes the church and schooi'
therefore, TO shape their policies 10
ward the service Of those who do not
own productive land or tools.
THE church and school In the
country are confronted with three
types whose influence Is very great
The first is the renter, or tenant 10
whom 7 have referred. The second
ia the retired farmer, who SOLD MS
land and is living in idleness on MS
money. and the third Is the absentee
landlord. These three are heaVs
weight for rural institutions TO carry
The renters are under economic pres
sure. Their children have 10 work
for they are seeking, not only Nv
ing. but a home. They. at the We!
time when they need education VI
most are most likely TO be irregular
at school.
The retired farmer has made a
great economic mistake, ana ne leele
it, He has exchanged land TOT money ,
when land is rising in vaiue' anu
money is losing its purchasing power.
He is. therefore, disappointed, ana
because of his meag.er resources ne Is
close. and unprogressive. He opposes
all improvements that VIII cost
money. And the absentee landlord
has hut one motive, TO increase ms
rents: hut one policy, TO hold his land
for a speculative price. while the sys'
tenn of one-year leases almost COM
nels his tenant 10 rob the soil.
Meantime. the church and the
school depend for. their life, not on
speculative values, but on real values.
II the soil loses it's fertility. they VIII
he tho first to show II, and the long
est 10 suffer from IL. The farmer
NAV as Sir Horace Plunkett shows
prosper on vicious system, 'here
is rising market, but the cnurcn anu
school will suffer from the system
because they depend for their sup
port upon real local incomes.
IT recommend, therefore, on the
basis of our thorough survey oil coun-
try communities and their needs, tnat
for self-preservation the churches
nromote. and the schools teach
scientific agriculture--not merely 10
make money, but for the purposes
of learning a new ideal oil country
life.
second. there is needed new
i'm the country. The Work
lust referred 10 will do much 10 tram
II. but many OF its standards are
higher than can be learned in work.
They must be taught through organ
lied and supervised recreation. 1here
is need in the country OF mus
dramatic entertainment, OF Tea,
work. through which the young VIII
learn the virtues of cooperation, set
subordination, sacrifice for common
end. and obedience The best avail
able place for this trainin
supervised playground, which Is pos
sible for church and school, and the
hest manager of-this- recreation Tor
moral training, Is the minister OF re-
ligion and school teacher
Above all the school and church
ehould cultivate cooperation, and
should prepare the coming genera
zion OF country people for those GO
Invites. in which the present gen
Grafton Is deficient For. upon the
cooperation OF farmers with one
other will depend tho success. In the
future. Of the farming class.
uith him the Nell.belng OF the whole
people Is involved