Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1912-12-26
WORK FOR OUR RURAL SCHOOLS.


THE United States Bureau Of Education is doing
everything it can. with the resources it has
mand TO stimulate public interest in the rural schools
and to increase their usefulness as educational factors
It's work is bearing fruit In all the States. including
Delaware. plans for the improvement OF such schools
are under officials OF the Federal Bureau OF Edu-
cation say there signs that the rural schools
at last coming into their Long the neglected
factor in American education they are in process
OF a regeneration that is thoroughgoing it is
necessary Il is not merely that educators have turned
their attention TO the probem il is not merely that
much is currently written the subject oneourth OF
the bulletins published in 1912 by the United States
Bureau Of Education dealing directly with rural educa
ton It is rather that theory has given place prac
tice; that the work Of rural education is actually
der way.
The bureau officials report that teachers Of ex-
perience, armed with the essential Of rural life
acquainted with the needs of the communities they
sincere their faith the country as the place
10 live in and build up citizenship are doing for the
rural districts what the pioneer teachers Of former
generations did for the city and the town
These rural teachers are actually accomplishing in
many States the work that has long been merely
talked about Old one-room, ramshacke schoolhouses
are torn down to make way for attractive little build
ings not necessarily larger than the old but built
sound principles Of beauty and utility or. frequently
the place Of the discarded building has taken by
the most imposing structure Of the Consolidated school,
symbol Of educational efficiency
Even the literature on rural education shows the
effects Of the practical application of what we're for
merly only theories Current bulletins OF the Bureau
OF Education describe the training Of rural school
teachers, not something that might be done, but as
something that has been done and is done every day
It is no longer the problem Of knowing what ought
to be done, but OF doing 1.-THE problem dsseminat
ing the knowledge that is already available
Il is held by the Federal bureau that the realization
of the significance OF rural education marks turning
For Tho baftn ~
century American education developed one-sdedly-as
a city and town matter To live I'm the country was
be isolated from the betters things Of civilization
including education That the population Of the United
States was and is predomnantly rural did not
TO enter the question. There feeling that the
country could take itself; that the little red
school house could accomplish everything with moth
ing that there inexhaustble supply of country
school-teachers willing TO handle assortment OF
youngsters OF varying and abilities do janitor
chores and perform the other duties Of the
old-tme schoomaster, all for few dollars per week,
with utter disregard OF the increased cost OF living.
The bulletins show that the awakening from this
state Of blssful indifference toward country life and
country education did rot until the drift from
country to city had become one Of the startling
phenomena Of the age Then economists exhorted
boys to stay the FARM" but the exhoration came
too late. What boy going to stay the farm
when opportunity seemed be everywhere else? There
adequate educational facilities for him in the
country; nothing TO guide him in his desire TO get
along in the world; he Join the city throng
and help diminish the producing power of the funda
mental class in society-the agrcutursts Rural edu-
cation not Immediately and entirely reverse this
but il is the rst essential step Better rural
schools viii only tend equaze the advantages OF
city and country in educational opportunity; they will
meet the greatest economic need of time by in
creasing the efficiency of the coming generation as
producers the land
There is no question before the people Of Della
ware to-day than this of the Improvement of the
rural schools Il everything to the future of
citizenship and agricultural horticultural and gem
eral business interests Much has been done but much
remains TO be done. The coming year should be
marked by substantial progress in this line in all
three counties.