The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-28
FRIDAY. JUNE Is. 1912.
New Way of Raising
Money for Rural Schools.

Needing more money for their schools
than was being raised by taxation, the
inhabitants of Wake county, North
Carolina, adopted the unique expedient
of cultivating the land surrounding the
schools, the money obtained from the
sale of the crops being used for the
benefit of the school. Seventeen such
school farms were operated last year.
They were worked by 1900 persons,
men. women, and children WHO con-
.tributed their labor free. The net
gain from the enterp-' was nearly
$1,000.
This new movement to raise addi-
tional funds for the country school is
described by A. G. Monahan. assistant
In rural education in the United States
bureau of education, In a monograph
lust issued for free distribution by the
bureau. Mr.. Monahan writes:
The plan has been called the school
farm movement and comprehends the
establishment OF small farms Of from
to 10 acres in connection with every
country school, This farm Is to be
cultivated by the children and their
parents. WORKING together on certain
days termed school farm working
bees
The working bees are gatherings
cultivation OF the school land. Each
school farm II usually given to one
crop. A regular system of rotation is
planned. The agricultural work is done
under the supervision OF the best
farmer in the community. so that good
methods are used. Every person, there
fore. taking part is given the oppor-
tunity to observe the most successful
systems of raising the crops under
cultivation.
The income received from the sale
Of the products raised on the school
farm is used for general school pur-
poses. 1t is hoped by this movement
to accomplish three things: First to
make money to be used in supplement-
ing the school fund: second, to offer
an opportunity to make the teaching of
agriculture in the rural school entire
ly practical and to illustrate how pleas
ant farm work can be made under
proper conditions; and, third, to offer
rural communities opportunities for
gatherings to develop the social side
Of farm life, with the school house the
social center OF the community and
the principal occupation of the people
-farming-the center of interest.
Springs where. two years ago, two
acres Of land were planted in cotton.
The lighter work was done by the
women and children of the community,
while the men did the heavy work. A
community dinner was a part of the
program for each gathering.
Two bales Of cotton were raised.
netting the school $119. The next year
the plan was tried at IL schools, the
crops raised including cotton, corn, to-
bacco and wheat. On the eleven farms
1900 persons participated in the work.
The net profit was nearly $1,000. Last
year six additional farms we're estab-
hshed. making a total of seventeen
farms.
The children of the country want
these school farms, and the older peo-
pie are in sympathy with the idea. The
results have been an increased inter
sst in the schools and the school work,
an Improvement in the appearance of
The buildings and grounds, and the
engthening of the school year; also
the development of better commu-
nity spirit and an Improvement in gen.
sral farming in the county"
The school farm movements was de-
veloped under the leadership of z. V.
Judd. the county superintendent of
public instruction.