Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-03-20
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
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OF any community. IL 10 OlSSCI ldSh W
put the plans into successful operation
and make practical the scheme by which
the community life is to be made larger
and more inspiring. II involves for one
thing change in sentiment, a change
from selfish independence to condition
of interested altruistic interdependence.
1t means surrender OF the motives OF
self to the broader and more humanizing
motives OF altruism. II means a settle
ment OF the question, what part ofmYselt
do owe my neighbor, and it means that
the answer to this question must be based
upon cooperation and fraternity.
. Cooperation is the big word in COM
munity life. II is the biggest word. Co.
operation in sentiment, cooperation in
work, cooperation in play, cooperation
in business, cooperation in education,
cooperation in everything. That's it.
A working together in the interest OF both
myself ard my neighbor. A willingness
to lay aside some part OF myself Tor my
neighbor's benefit, even though he is
more favored than am or on the other
hand less favored than am. This is the
spirit of cooperation and neighborlineSS
that believe we are ready for an extern
sion OF in Jefferson, as we are ready for
everything else good. Shall we adoptit? ?
Shall we get together? There is not
another county in the State OF West Viz
ginia so admirably adapted for an exten-
sion of this spirit Happy in location,
blessed with excellent highways, richly
endowed with high citizenship, highly
favored in climate and soil. possessed OF
young manhood and young womanhood
unequaled, why shouldn't we make the
old county all thatwe are capable OF max
ing her2
But to the question, How shall we en-
large the community spirit? Being a
school man, my mind naturally looks for
a solution to the problem in the first place
TO the school phase of the question. My
fist suggestion carries with it two no.
tionS: First, the establishment OF a high
school in each district in the county out
side town limits where the country life
will be emphasized intensively and the
town idea made secondary second, the
appointment OF district supervisor OF
schools who shall have as an essential
qualification the highest ideal OF country
life as the best life.
lido not believe it is for the beStinter estS
OF farm life in any county for the country
boys and girls TO be educated in the town
school. do not intend any criticism OF
the town schools on account OF inefficient
instruction or anything OF that sort, but it
is the sentiment OF the school that is de-
tracing the boy and the girl from the
country home that am criticiSing. The
boys and girls are getting the town idea
instead of the country idea. They are
being eternally divorced from the country
home and made to seek the town as the
panacea, the paradise. The boys and
girls get the town habit, if you please.
The country habit seems crude to them.
| am not averse to the boys and the girls
becoming dissatisfied with the rural con-
ditions if at the same time they are given
that strength by which they can make the
old farm better. That is education.
Then let us have the district high school.
Let it set up the proper standards for the
country youth. Let him get his ideas
there. The location OF this school should
of necessity be central. The district
demonstration farm should be the big
idea. AT the head OF fthis farm the strong
est farmer in the county should be placed.
With his rich experience, supplemented
by what can be secured from the various
lines of rural effect that our State is now
offering, this farmer could day by day
give TO our boys and girls-the future
farmers-that very type OF agricultural
education which we so much need now.
The science OF agriculture will then be-
come real, tangible, effective means by
which pleasure, happiness, real living
can be secured from the soil. Farming
will not be drudgery, but will become a
contest in which the farmer is the victor
with the soil his best ally. That is not
all that this school shall stand for. II
shall have well equipped department OF
home economics in which the girls will
learn those things which will make them
capable of becoming housewives in the
highest sense. They will be as well fitted
TO assume the duties OF womanhood as
the graduates of the modern normal school
is fitted 10 take up the duties OF teaching.
They will have done under the care OF an
experienced housewife all those things
which 90 TO make up woman'S part in
happy home and that is d lot.
The principal and teachers in this school
will be those who have the right aspect
toward farm life. All other subjects
which 60 to make the broad and intelli-
gent farmer and successful business man
will be given the country youth with these
rural surroundings. Who can deny the
beneficent effect upon the community life
OF such an institution? This school shall
be the rallying point for the district. A
library will be there, with plenty OF farm
literature and plenty of general literature
for the districts use. The auditorium
will be the meeting place for township
affairs, community picnics will be held in
the campus. farm product contests. COM
munity aihletics-everything community
Ike shall be held there. We need these
high schools in Jefferson and We ought
TO have them.
would like 10 carry this picture far
ther but Snace will not hermit. There