The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-13

lSpuhAgs ooHhS VI blGIi oGNGIdl biiutSs JlS
has addressed 80 farmers meetings and
has secured the cooperation of 90 farm
ers in undertaking several forms of dem
onstration work. They are cultivating
various crops under his direction. With
the cooperation of the state college of
agriculture, he is taking farm financial
record survey for the purpose of OBJ
tanning data to determine what forms
of farming pay best in that county
Through his activities, the Bennington
Farmers league has been organized, and
by the end of the year it is expected
that local association will be formed
in every township. The purpose of the
league and the local branches is to en-
able the farmer to buy and sell cooper
atively. During the year over 100 farm
ers bought their fertilizers through the
tcounty league.
| With the cooperation of the school
superintendent and teachers, begin
ming has been made in establishing boys
agricultural clubs in connection with
these schools. Much work has also been
done in seed testing in the schools, under
directions furnished by the county farm
agent.
Public Roads: A selectmen's and road
|
of the first activities of the County I'M
provement association. An expert from
the federal office of good roads was OBJ
tanned, who spent the summer and fall
| of 1912 and the entire season when road
construction was possible in 1913, in the
county. This agent assumed advisory
| charge of the construction and mainte-
nance of certain selected roads in the
yor hing af fha ~ tun,.lr
on which was paid for by the towns
and the state. He had 81 split-log road
drags built and demonstrated the effec-
tiveness and economy of their use. His
work is creating a desire for better
roads and he is demonstrating how good
roads may be built and old roads made
good and maintained at the lowest cost.
Schools: The association was instru-
mental in forming two new school SUI
pervisory unions, including three town
ships each, and in the establishment of
a teacher training course in an academy
in the county. As a result of the SUI
pervisory unions and the services of the
union superintendent obtained, better
methods of teaching were adopted, teach
ers' meetings were held at which in
structions were given in the things per-
W luidl GOuIstS VI
study were prepared and furnished the
teachers, and school children were re-
classified to eliminate extra and unnee.
essary classes. New equipment was OBJ
tanned. buildings were repaired and
painted on both the inside and the out
side, and school grounds were improved.
In these two union districts, six schools
have been abandoned during the year,
and the children transported to other
buildings. Three more will be closed
the present year. In one union, gradua-
ton exercises were held for pupils who
had completed the eighth grade.
The teacher training course established
was in the Burr & Burton seminary
and in its first year had IL pupils, five
of whom were in the senior class of the
seminary, and seven of whom had pre-
viously graduated The seminary course
is at least equivalent to that of the
standard high school. The teacher train |
ing course aims to fit the pupils for
rural school work. 1t includes not only |
methods of teaching subjects usually in |
cluded in parliamentary school curricu- |
hum, but also something about the prob
lens of rural life. Country schools in |
the county were used for observation |
anu piaCilte lehGHiHE.
District nursing: A graduate nurse |
was employed by the County Improve |
ment association, who made a house |
survey of part of the county, covering |
economic, social, moral, religious, sani- |
tary and hygienic conditions. This gave
valuable information regarding the needs |
of the county, particularly relative to |
sanitation, the facilities for caring for /
the sick. the things necessary for the !
prevention of disease, and the sort of |
instruction in sanitation and hygiene |
needed in the public schools. The nurse |
took care of several cases of critical ILL., |
ness and did considerable social service |
work in improving conditions in many |
homes, in having certain children prop |
erly clothed and fed, and in other sim
liar ways. A tuberculosis and educa-
tional motion picture exhibit prepared |
by the state department of health was
secured for the county by the district /
nurse and 10 entertainments attended |
by $500 people were given.
Affiliated organizations: Local COM 1
munity improvement associations were 1
in every village, wherever pos
sible. They have been very active in
securing physical improvements, such as
CeHleHb anu sIoHp SIDEWALKS. electric II
lighting, village parks, Fairgrounds,
clean streets, new school buildings, etc.
these local associations, inter
village cooperation was made possible
by the County Improvement association
in arranging for county lyceu-n lee
lure and entertainment course. Advan-
tageous rates were obtained and five
numbers of high order were given at
several different places in the county
1t low rate for each course.
The Bennington County Improvement
association is financed by annual dues
rom its members, and by contributions
rom certain members, who constitute
,he roll of honor, and by others desig-
lated as sustaining members. Nearly
500 regular members pay a fee of 81
DER year each. Ten sustaining members
iach contributed 500; one on the "roll
If honor gave $3.50; and nine others
Ill, 900 each. In addition to the va
ious activities mentioned instituted and
Imported by the organization, the as
ociation employs secretary to devote
lis entire time to the general manage
nent of the association aft IRIS and also