The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-10-22

for community social benefits by no
4 less personages than ExJPresIdeht
/. Theodore Roosevelt and President
Woodrow Wilson. Our own state
has already taken some definite steps
towards providing better social con-
ditons In rural communities. The
state superintendent, N. p. Shawkey,
has called for thousand volunteers
I this year, 1913-1914, to arrange for
at least from fifteen to twenty COM
munity social gatherings in their re-
spective school houses. In order 10
help carry out these plans OF the
state superintendent in this respect
and to make this phase of the teach
ers' work easier and upon the ~
600 rural teachers falls the burden
OF carrying out these plans this
handbook IS published with the hope
that It viii both help and encourage
these teachers in the great work or
Improving iaral social life.
1t is generally agreed tina. there
is less opportunity for the people or
the country to get together and have
a general good time than there used
to be. There used to be the husking
bees, the barn raisings, the thresk-
ing days. even the log rollings.
There used to be the apple cuttings,
the bean stringings, the sugar max
ings. There used to be the spelling
bees. the old time 'liteFarieh,S the
. heated debates. There are not so
many of any OF these diversions to-
day. In many communities nearly
all OF these have been entirely
abandoned. Nothing has taken their
place. Many of the rural churches
have been abandoned, the ministers
having either starved out, or left the
country. Perhaps the best means
we have left for getting the rural
folk together is the Sunday school.
This, however. is usually active only
during the summer months.
What are the results OF all this
change In the first place the peo-
pie in the country are without
amusement. recreation, or social life.
They do not even visit one another
as they did formerly. Families live
in varying degrees of Isolation. This
situation makes living in the coun-
try dull, uneventuful, undressing.
AS final result many OF our country
boys and girls and not few of the
older ones leave the farms and go
to the cities where they congregate
on the streets, at the movies at the
club, at the dance hall, at the the
ater, sometimes at the pool rooms,
gambling dens, evil resorts and sa-
looms. And we are not to censure
too severely these young people for
leaving the farms and going to the
cities. Man is social animal. He
takes to society naturally. Isolation
from his fellows is uncomfortable to
youth or grown-up. If he can not
find congenial associates in the coun-
try, he will go to the city. II ne
can not find good company there he
viii find bad. He must have COM
panions. Therefore, hlst as long as
the country fails to provide some
means OF social enjoyment the boys
and girls will continue to go to the
cities in large numbers.
What, therefore. shall be done |
to make living in the country toler-
able to our country youth? The SOL
luton devolves upon the school.
Upon the teacher rests the immedi-
ate responsibility of leadership in all
tA1L may We noue' one must SECURE
the cooperation of the ministers, OF
the parents and citizens, in devising
ways and means of bringing the
young together often for social en-
joyment, mental recreation, even
for merely good fellowship. The
boys and girls will do their part If
only proper leadership and encour-
agement are afforded them"
Programs suitable for Washing
tons birthday, Lineoln's birthday,
Columbus Day, CleanJUp and Beau
tify Day, Good Roads Day, Peace
Day, Library Day, Farmers Evening,
Indian Night and dozen more are
given.
The pamphlet is being sent to all
the teachers of the state.