The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-06

he new burden has been largely
thrown. Vacation Fairgrounds. with
games nde the supervision Of y
trained leader. evening lectures. often
with stereopticon, on such topics al
rayer. history. science. literature.
music. art, are being given, dehat-
ing and dramatic clubs are formed.
Rural schools hold camps for boys
and girls, organize field days and play
festivals. and SO on. The introduction
Of organized recreation In rural dis
tr;cts is proving a mighty force for
the welding Of communities together.
| and for co~unteracting h oSften eXccs-
sive ind~ividualism. Says one who has
had much experience In the matter
"A very important result or play II
the ountry is the Development Of
community spirit which is SO seriously
lacking in rural districts There seems
to be so little to hold people together
| Social forces are centrifugal rather
| than centripetal. But once interest
| children in play. get them to Organlza
teams, design and make a School ban
| ner. compose and learn a school cheer.
adopt a distinctive athletic costume
or ever a celluloid button which is TO
be worn when they go to tho next
great play festival and compel with
other schools. and there will be no
lack Of community spirit so far Us
the children are concerned, and TIL"
adult population will soon be catch
ing something Of it too"
Space is lacking to speak of the
/ 81 eat variety Of ways in which tho
schools of both city and Ountry are
becoming social centers. Extension
work with parents, tho use OF the
school buildings for places Of meet
ing Of n~eighborhood organizations.
work for civic progress, for better
Tnent Of ncighborhood conditions, tho
holding Of exhibitions, conducting
summer work on farms. q hole RANG"
Of activities, are giving the school 4
new hold on the people everywhere.
Such are some Of the new activities
which the hoo is assuming. There
is a feeling. indeed, in many quarters.
that it is scattering too much, that i
is over-emphasizing some elements u
the neglect Of others. This may well
be true. The situation is as yet too
new for the school to have fully
adapted itself to it's new duties. Edu-
cation is in Z transition stage, and
there may indeed be a time Of some
: confusion in the REIMBURSEMENT Of
values.
{ But it is we'll to recognize that there
, is here a real problem which calls
: for solution. some schools have
tended SO much to emphasize the
practical tha they are in danger Of
I &O@AAAo oISht VI tAG NGtlui LII nc
t spiritual. 1t makes a very real diff
( terence whether the boy comes to
6 look on the school as q means by
q which he may acquire material ad-
y vancenaent in life. and that alone. The
6 school must never become merely q
prerequisite to a job. To make it this
q is to defeat the prime object Of tho
socialized schoo..
t The school has thus been forced.
literally, in many cases in spite Of
: itself. TO assume a new function. That
o Junction 1t may not fulfill perfectly.
But what other agency is at hand to
r fulfill it at all? Until society shall
d invent agencies, it seems that
e the public school will have to serve.
e AS the matter stands at present. edu-
cation in the public schools is a vast :
h ~ more important concern Of the
e state than would formerly have been
deemed possible, and q concern which
a IS steadily becoming more important.
o Inc State which In these days does
e not extend the functions OF its schools
o 10 include these new duties runs g.
tremendous risk Of paying for its neg
" iect WIN a price that is far heavier
IMAM Is can afford. The time is surely
t coming, II present tendencies continue.
y "heh education will be the prime
conGern OF ~overnment. The welfare
t or the child the training Of the future
" cltlzen, is a consideration which ma '
IS well outweigh all others.
one does not need to point out Tho
beginnings or the movement toward
soclallzatlon in North Carolina Ret
.erInent associations, the work done
- IA WAKE county. the recent Legislation
III iaNor or farm-life schools. Will
= occur. among other thinps RI al
= WIN rapid industrial development and
- WIN increasing attempts to deye,on
~ .uIai resources, the problem mus,
- assume ever greater Importance CO..,
= \ ul.'on or life here. as everywhere. are
At 80 'urs becoming more complex, and
- the proper training OF the chiIo far
~ tWsh'leth century CITIZENSHIP uora
~ uncut. Here, as elsewhere, there is
~ no agency which can cope with tn,