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

moment because neltHei 2
parents can see the value 80
panal schooling. might be saved from
: Ito If drifting and ineficiency pE
noting these critical ears q uIHe %
generation for life which Is at once
practical and cultural. some pii'a'
firms are undertaking a sysleih -
raining for their own employees -
the -outh at this time does uot no
merely technical training. ne nV.o
as well the moral atmospheio
school. the social advantages OF COLI
tact with his fellows Of other tastes
and stations. And. indeed,
| tons who attempt this training are
more and more relying on the Schoo1
for assistance.
Drift Of population TO the cities mas
resulted in an actual decrease OF
population in some rural ulsliIe''.
on the other hand. what a pc uolie
by improved methods OF agrlcultuie
is inst beginning to be generally real
lied. The country 0 who seeks
wealth in the city often leaves q pros
porous career that was literally under
his feet. In the teaching of improved
methods of agriculture, demonstration
agencies are doing much, but mere
again the school has advantages. IL
trains in good methods before poor
ones have become fastened on the
farmer by use; instruction can pc
systematic, cumulative: the pubic
schools reach the majority who never
can attend an agricultural college.
The public school here is the logical
agency for diffusion Of scientific
knowledge Of agriculture.
On the moral side as Well, the
school is being forced to a new
responsibility. It is not encouraging
that juvenile crime has been on the
increase, not only in this country. but
in all European countries. In many
families, especially in the cities and
suburbs, parental authority has de
cayed; the father whose work takes
him away from his children all day
comes often to have little influence
on their conduct, and the mothers
), discipline alone is sometimes not
enough to keep the children within
bounds, especially during the critical
days Of early youth. In many sec
tons OF the country, again. the church
has not kept it's old authority with
I the people, and the umbe of those
who come under its influence has les
t sened. Business and political dis.
: c]losures have made us fearful for tht
ideals Of our growing youth. For
| many reasons the moral function OF
6 the school is coming to the front
: and an education which shall secure
: morality as we'll as mentality is be
ing demanded.
I Again, there is the question O
S training FOR civic responsibility. lie
me quote here from a recent bool
by Cubberley: Our state government
y are weak and inefficient, we say; tn
school must then teach, and teach il
n some effective manner the principles
OF strong and effective government
Our city governments are corrupt, w,
hear; fundamental. moral and econ
e omic principles must then be laugh
e to the masses. 50 that they ma.
a realize the Importance OF civic right
IS e~ousness, and understand as well VIII
ultimately pays the bills for all mis-
MANAGEMENT. Our people waste thei
S money and their leisure in idle an,
prOHlSate ways, we say; a knOWledg
IS Of values and Of how to utilize leisur
~ time must then be taught. The lis
q might be prolonged over pages, wit
IS similar conclusions. Through all tn
4 complicated machinery of the schoo
/ some way must be found to awaken
II social consciousness as opposed t
class consciousness, to bring out tn
n important social and civic lessons.
lg point out our social and civic need
i and TO each our young people, no
III to live better and to make better US
n Of their leisure time. Reading, .wri.
Ahe, 1dIfliIIdI, SCbSE1D0
Or and history, the staples of the els
40 mentary curriculum. are really Of Iii
~ tie value except as they are closel
is related with the needs and problem
re OF our social, civic and industri:
.ic life"
G Few movements are Of moro in
II p~ortance than that to provide prop,
lie recreation for the child Th;s :. =,
on coming increasingly a function Of r
school, both in the city and the cour
We try. Let us guard carefully again
'oi the stern old doctrine that tin
Ia spent IN proper recreation is waste
ay or dangerous to morality. Exact
NJ the opposite is true. Groos once sa:
~ what our own Fiske has intimate
that man is given youth ~ oraan -
ity he NAV Dlav phvsicauv +bo e.loa,,
rs unrestrained use Of muscular system
70 IN play IS Of the utmos efficacy.
ne It's greatest values are mental ar