The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-09-12
REIlh|
Schools Are Now tBeginnil
OF Learn the Cash Value
of Agriculture. u

WASHINGTON, Sept. g. To
,,oye that iarmIng-the right kind.
= farming pays. is one OF the
asks which the rural school has en-
nbatically set itself. 1t Is particu-
,,rIy essential to make the school
children realize the money value OF,
agriculture, not as a theory, but as.
practical fact. and one of the best.
vays 70 demonstrating 1t has been
,boyn to be to let the children ac-
mally farm BIT OF ground and coll
lect the proceeds. Recently the.
tinted States Commissioner OF Edu-
eaton. Or. P. p. Claxton, had occa-
sion to welcome a party of southern
boys and girls who were on sight
seeing tour OF Washington with
money earned in their own farming.
"Real farming did IT." said Mr..
Caxton, in describing the expert
ment. THE money earned from
their Individual garden patches in
connection with the study Of up-to-
date farming paid the expenses OF
those 20 Virginia school children.
The children came from the Second
Congress onal district agricultural
school at Driver, near Norfolk. The
party was in charge OF Mr.. ]. B.
l. DeJarnette, the principal OF the
school, and he was a busy man in
deed during the three days spent in
seeing the sights OF the Nations
capital
Tomatoes and other produce
paid the full cost OF this trip-which
was just 1913 for each pupil. by
the way. This amount was only a
comparatively small part OF their
total earning fro the year. The
children come from one of the best
gardening regions in the south, and
their school has an unique place
in that particular community. The
school has an instructor in argicul-
ture, who teaches three days week
and spends the other three in farm
demonstration work, applying on
the farms of the district the theory
he imparts in school,"
Further inquiry showed that this
is not the first time the children
have learned that intelligent farm
ing brings in a cash return. Each
student makes regularly a profit OF
from $25 to 500 on the individual
garden patch he cultivates. In ad-
dtIon the children help in working
school farm, which after paying
all expenses, including the wages OF
the man who serves both as a farm
hand and school CANTOR, shows a
profit Of about $500. Mr.. DeJar-
nette is confident that with a rs
acre farm. which he hopes to have
soon, his boys will be able to earn
their own living entirely while at
tending school.
The state of Virginia is among
the rapidly increasing number Of
states that are beginning to realize
The Importance OF adequate agricuI-
inraI education, and money has been.
appropriated to. aid the school.
There have also been private bene-
factions A new $4,000 building
IS 10 be dedicated in September and
Or Claxton has promised to be pres
ent At the ceremonies.
The experiment at Driver is only
one Of many indications of what the
American rural school can and
should do. All over the country eff
toHs are being made to bring home
10 ihe country districts the signifi-
canee and value of agriculture. The
rural school is the essential link in
lie chain, and the United States bu-
reaa Of education is endeayorlng to
uFiye this fact home so deep that it
VIII never be forgotten, for the Ou-
Teau maintains that fNa rurnl school
must provide the kind OF training
,0a' VIII not only fit boys and girls
Ior rural life, but will serve to in
'e'pre' lie in the country 30 attrac-
oy'Iy that when the children grow
70 manhood and womanhood they
VIII be glad to remain on the farm.