Newark post., 1912-09-04

own; D(lJ, through lHelI HctlouS
and lack Of the proper higher
courses have forced those children
into our towns or have left them
on the farms half trained and con.
sequently dissatisfied.
Which brings me. Mr.. Editor, to
my excuse for writing. In the
letter of ga Parent, +" the writer
stated that his boy lived upon
farm and asked what course Of
study Mr.. Washburn would map
out for this boy who attends the
rural schools, Newark High
School and then enters college.
In later issue you asked for a
general discussion Of the matter,
and in the splendid articles thus
far submitted there is scarcely
any mention Of the rural school.
and it does seem to me that that
part of that boys life and of the
country girl s life is the most Vi
tai. If that be attended to in a
proper way, we shall not be so
troubled about the courses he
takes in high school and college.
He will not care a whit for the
diploma, but will map out his
course true to his nature.
In my criticism | desire to give
full credit to our county superin-
tendents, Board Of Education and
district school teachers. They are
conscientious, tried and true. AS
Mrs. Dawson says. the State
Board of Education will give us
what we want. but it is not very
likely that they will realize what
we want until we tell them. 1t is
the country people who are to
blame and when they feel that
fact and get to work they will get
what they want. The agricultu-
raj courses in our college are do
inc wonderful work. but it is a
bad business as well as bad mat
rimonial policy to train the boys
to like farming and take it for
granted that the girls will fall
contentedly into line. The college
agricultural courses begin the
work too late in life and the
course is optional. while the child
who is trained from the beginning
Of his school years has such great
advantage. The young men Of
tae coHlsffse Hfisss N1sGti s. are too often
obliged to become bread winners,
and these courses without previ
Gus training is like teaching
horse his PAGES without previously
accustoming him to the harness.
We of the farm know that is not
"horse sense" In my own school
district it would be rather sad
dening to make canvass and dis
cover how many young men and
women have gone to towns and
cities to school or to work. The
farm mother sees her children
leave her because she is SO Sltua-
ted as to schools. If we want to
keep the farmer 5 wife and his
children cOntented there must be
a system OF rural schools that
shall supply to country children
all educational advantages that
are offered to town children. with
the long walks in all kinds OF
weather eliminated and courses
added that will tend to train th'
child to know how to work on /
farm and to see beauty in sucl
work. The boys and girls mus
both be trained, and the Womal
! of education is the woman win
will adapt herself to and bette
conditions anywhere.
We dread to see our little tot o
six years trudge two and one-hal
miles to a school. detained all da.
and return weary at night. The
It is very hard when the youn
son finds he has outgrown the dl'
trict school and you reflect ths
he is not to be blamed for CROWN
away from the farm if he enter
i, the high school and hears no mor
of it.
!. Then the daughter enters tn
high school, and, practical Oil
: that she is, finds fascination in tn
commercial course. and is bcir
rapidly trained for work in son
man s Office
q We want our country youth I
I enter their work of life with tn
, knowledge Of the value Of the lii
r of intelligent methods of woi
\ and Of supervision. There will
a wholesome sitting Of false i,l
O pressions Of the greater adva
0 tages of city life-they will S
each life in its true relation i'll
ma lyn their choices SanplV.