The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-14
FARMER SCHOOLS| IN
NORTH CAROLINA
Facts About the Unique School
at Jamestown-Many Counties
Coming In.

Chapel Hill. y. G.. December 10
Tho downward revision of the board
bilf' of the average high school pupil
coupled with - 80 per cent increase OF
children attending school regularly
arc two conditions alone that merit
tho continued growth of the farm-lifc
school idea In North Carolina. is the
opinion of Prof. ~ W Walker State
inspector Of secondary schools. The
jamestown farm-lifc school. located
ten miles southwest OF Greensboro in a
thrifty farming region OF Guilf":d
County, substantiatcs these two COIN
,ncndablc claims for the farm-lifc
school. BY the operation of "A mess
hall on the cooperative basis. the
actual cost per student for good board
and accommodations for the school
term OF eight months in the year is
only IL cents day. The growth OF
the school has been phenomenal. as
since the establishment OF the school
three years ago the enrolment has
jumped from forty-four to 10 pupils
While the farm-lifc school is AN
outgrowth OF the public school system
al North Carolina OF only three years
ago. its success during its expert
mental stagfs is an assurance of It's
pcrmanency In the school lii" OF the
State. The local law OF Guilford coun-
~, providing for the Jamestown school
in 1911 has been Incorporated III the
laws OF North Caroline, with the i."gis
lature appropratup $25,cro for the
promotion Of the idea ~ tie rate OF
ten new counties each year. The coun-
~ complying with the act ito promote
the teaching OF agriculture and do
nestle science in the public schools
fl aided b. an annual apportonment of
,S2,50o from the state.
Eight counties in thc State have
taken advantage Of the appropriation
by raising the additional funds for
the establishment Of the school, Nash
County being the eighth county TO join
tho ranks when Red Oake voted $4,000
or last Saturday for the cause The
other counties that have at various
Intervals established these schools In
connection with public schools already
in operation are: craven. Guiitord, with
three schools WAKE. with tWo schools.
and Durham. The maintenance OF the
schools In excess ~; tn. annual APP
preparation from TIA" stat, j. through
funds provided hy tile count, beard OF
education. donation OF local taN, not cN-
seeding $500 schools establishing
The departments OF agriculture and do
incstic science. as designated by the act
providing for the farm-life schools.
are TO provide adequate buildings
dormitories laboratories. apparatus
and farm OF not less than ten acres
oil ara ble lhNu
Tho jamestown school tile Guilford
county School. which has achieved
such splendid results and thereby
served as the best argument for the
growth Of the farm life idea, j. ideally
living UP 10 the aims Of the school
that Of preparing boys and girls for
agricultural pursuits and home mak!ng
pnd home keeping
re meet the demands placed upon
the school in the way If increased at
tendance during the past year "A new
dormitory has been constructed for the
girls. with rooms espccially adaptable
for Laboratories FOR teaching domestic
science The girls are taught b.
skilled Instructors in cooking ana sew =
ing and other domestic arts employed
III nome making ana keeping Of the
highest sort
The boys OF tho school constituting
about onehalf in number arc drilled
;n the scientific farming as carried on
for nine months on the twenty-five
.,crc farm The task Of improving ia"
soil IL one that is ~ no wise neglected.
and the crops OF peas and rye are
nltcruatcd, producing crops that are
harvested hy the boys and girls. and
the fertility Of the grouni is much
enriched. II is hy the co-operat tive
plan that the cost OF living has been
scaled to the minimum Of II cents a
day. ~ planned by trained teachers
III the fields OF agriculture ana dOmes-
tic science. Nor does the school term
bring an end 10 the work Of the teach
crs IN the school, for tho act Of the
Legislature specifies that they shall
continue their services in the form OF
extension work. They are TO cooper
ate with the state Department OF Agri-
culture in conducting township and
district meetings FOR farmers and
farmers wives III many sections OF the
state.
The recommendation OF Professor
Walker, state Inspector of high
schools. are that the farn-lifc school
shalt primarily serve the interests of
n central high school OF the county in
which it is situated. He " ould have
this central high school the stamping
ground for the interests Of agriculture
and home economies alongside the ira
diHonal or college preparatory courses.
TO combine this two-fold interest is
to increase the favor OF the farm life
idea and 10, make the instruction of
agricultural and domestic arts prevail
in all parts OF the old North state.