The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-26
SCHOOL FAR MS.
Unique Method OF Raising Money
for Benefit Of Schools.

Needing more money for thelr
schools than was being raised by
taxation, the inhabitants OF Wake
county, North Carolina, adopted the
unique eXpedient OF cultivating 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 contributed
their labor free. The net gain from
the enterprise was nearly $1,000.
This new movement TO raise addi
tional funds for the country school
is described by A. c. Monahan, as
sistant in rural education in the Uni
ted States Bureau of Education, in
monograph just issued for free
distribution by the bureau. Mr.. Mon
ahan writes:
The plan has been called the
school farm movement and COM
prehends the establishment of small
farms of from to 10 acres in con-
nection with every country school.
This farm is to be cultivated by
the children and their parents, work
ing together on certain days termed
school farm working bees.
THE working bees are gather
ings for social purposes, as well as
for the cultivation of the school
land. Each school farm is usually
given to one crop. A regular system
of rotation is planned. The agricul-
tural work is done under the super
vision of the best farmer in the
community, so that good methods
are used. Every person, therefore,
taking part is given the opportunity
to observe the most successful sys-
tens of raising the crops under cul-
tivation.
"'The income received from the
sale of the products raised on the
school farm is used for general
school purposes 1t is hoped by this
movement to accomplish three things
First. to make money TO be used
in supplementing the school fund;
second, to offer an opportunity TO
make the teaching of agriculture IN
the rural school entirely practical
and to illustrate how pleasant farm
work can be made under proper
conditions; and, third, to offer rural
communities opportunities for gath
erings to develop the social side OF
farm life. with the schoolhouse the
social center of the community and
the principal occupation of the peo-
ple-farming center Of interest.
The first work was done at Holly
Springs, where, two years ago, Z
acres of land were planted in cot
ton. The lighter work was done
bv 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 $l19. The next
wear the plan was tried at II schools
the crops raised including cotton
corn. tobacco and wheat. On the
II farms 1900 persons participat-
ed in the work. The net profit was
nearly 81 200. Last year 6 addition
al farms were established, making
total of II farms
THE children OF the county want
these school farms, and the older
people are in sympathy with the
idea. The results have been an in
creased interest in the schools and
the school work, an improvement IN
the appearance Of the buildings and
grounds, and the lengthening OF the
school year; also the development OF
a better community spirit and an
Improvement in general farming in
the county.
The school farm movement was
developed under the leadership OF
Z. V. Judd, the county superintend-
ent' of public instruction.
A vapor bath prepares the skih
to perform its functions OF health.