The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-10-18
TO COUNTY sUPERINTENDENTs.

to recommend the observance OF
Wednesday, November 27, 1912, as
Agricultural Day
in all their public schools.
The purpose of this movement is to
focus attention on the country school
and country life for one day in every
part of u section. Suggestive pro-
grams are being arranged containing
songs, r~ecitatiCns and readings bear
ing on country life. Boys of the corn
clubs and girls of the canning clubs
will be asked to display their prod
ucts, and all the school activities
which center in the country will be
called into operation in the exer-
cises.
1t is hoped thet this observance will
grow into an annual custom and that
some day in November can be agreed
upon when the millions of school chill
dren in the country, with their friends
and parents, can come for a few brief
hours and consider the needs peculiar
to the country school and country life.
A double significance will attach to
the Day this year in that in connec
ton with the program of country life.
1t is planned to commemorate the life
and service of DR.. Seaman A. Knapp.
1t is useless to remind you of the
value of DR.. Knapp's work. OF all
the mel of recent years who have
contributed ideas of vital value to the
educational development of the South.
he stands out prominently. When we
have passed through the present edu-
eational change and have worked cut
a satisfactory country school and hav-
arranged a curse of study and activ-
tiles which will thoroughly equip Il
young people, it will no doubt be
found that the ideas of DR.. Knapp
have given coloring to the whole
scheme.
But his contribution was not merely
an academic one; it was directly and
Immediately of material value. The
larger returns from investments of
time, labor and money in agricultural
pursuits which are reported from
every state, the agricultural awaken
ing which marks these latter years
in every section of the South, is due
largely to his labors, suggestions and
teachings. Ii is natural that the South
should undertake to pay some tribute
to the memory of this nan; and soon
after his death a memorial committee
was appointed, who, after c~onsulta-
ton, planned to erect a memorial to
him of such a nature as to conserve
the great agricultural ideas he had
given to the world. Later the Cen
eral Education Board set aside $780,
600 to endow the Seaman A. Knapp
School for Country Life as part of the
George Peabody College for Teachers.
The Knapp Memorial Committee
thereupon resolved to raise a fund of
S150,000 from the school children and
parents of the South to purchase a
farm and erect a suitable building for
carrying on the activities of the Sea
man A. Knapp School.
Knapp Agricultural Day in Tennes-
e and the South this year will be
utilized to secure this fund. This.
does not mean that the primary pur-
pose is to raise money, the real aim.
as already suggested, being to study
country life; but an incident of the
gathering is a collection for this great
and worthy cause. Small contributions
are especially desirable. There are
men who are willing to give the whole
sum, or a large part of it, but the
Committee in charge would much pre-
fer a multitude of nickels and dimes
and dollars to a few large subscrip-
tons. 1t has been suggested that if
desired, the school observing the Day
may. retain half the collection for To-
cal purposes, and donate the remain
der to the Knapp Memorial, the part
reserved to be used in school i'm
pryement, purchase of books bearing
particularly on country life, and sup
plying other needs of the country
school.
Every Cunty Superintendent who
has ever organized a corn club, or who
has realized the benefits of such an
organization in another country;
every boy who has ever been connect
ed with a corn club, or every girl who
has ever heard of a canning club;
every parent who has seen the inter-
est of his children expand because of
these and kindred organizations;
every man, woman and child who has
felt the stirring of these new move
ments in country life, ought to partic-
ipate in the program and make the
Knapp Agricultural Day notable in
the educational and material develop
ment of his community and State.
| hope that you will take hold of
this matter vigorously at once and
thoroughly organize your County. At
the earliest possible date have a
meeting of your teachers and urge
them to observe the Day in their
school. Suggestive programs will be
furnished from my Office. Every SUI
perintendent who will cooperate in
this movement will do ne a favor by
communicating with me at once.
j. w. BRISTER,
State Superintendent.
CAL EM A M z NLnPHH