St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1914-10-02
THE RURAL TEACHER
Bears Heavy Burden Of
Civilization.
BY Peter Radford.
Lecturer National Farmers Union.

| BY Peter Hadtoro.
Lecturer National Farmers Union.
with the new development Of rural
life, there comes the demand for IN
creased educational facilities and the
! impulse OF universal education which
is sweeping the country calls for In
| telligent and consecrated leadership
| IN our rural schools. II Is upon the
rural teacher that one OF the heaviest
burdens of civilization falls, for not
only must he lay the foundation OF
education, but he must also instill into
the pupils the real love for country
life, which will hold him on the
farm and help TO stem the downward
tide.
In the city, the teacher is cog In
the vast wheel of educational machin-
cry; In the country he ie the wheel.
II is he who must mold the character,
inspire the ideals and shape the des-
tiny of the farm boys and girls, and
II he Is fitted by nature for the taask,
not only will the results of his ef-
forts be reflected In the pupils, but
gradually the whole community will
be leayened with a new ambition for
progress.
lie can organize around the school
the main interests OF the boys and
girls and develop the impulse for CO.
operation, which in time will displace
the old competitive individuallsm and
make rural social life more congenisl
and satisfying. The possibilities for
making the rural school the social
and economic center of the commu.
nifty ara air ost endless. and the facul.
ties Of the rural teacher may have
full play, for II will take all his time
aud ingenuity II he sttains the full
measure of success.
Must BE Community Leader
A noted college professor recently
said that three things are now re.
qured Of a rural teacher. The frs,
requirement Ia that he must be strong
enough to establish himself as lead
er In the community In which he lives
aud labors; second. that he must have
q good grasp on the organization and
management OF the new and scientific
farm school aud. third. that he must
show expert ability In dealing with
the modern rural school curriculum.
n he lives mp TO the opportunities OF.
iored him as a rural leader. he will
train boys and girfs distinctly for
rural life. not only by giving them
the rudiments OF agricultural training.
but by enabling thom to see the NJ.
tractlye side OF farm lie. and 10 res
lze that Il IN a scientific business. ana
one Of the most complex OF all pro-
fosslons with opportunities as great
as those Of any other calling.
"sehool for Parents" Needed.
The duties OF the rural teacher are
moro varied and complicated than
those of the city teacher. and he some.
times has to include the parents In
directing his efforts for the best 70.
suits In communities where the old.
or population Ia opposed to any do.
pnrture OF the younger generation
from established customs In either
social or economic life. their cooper.
alton can often be secured by calling
community meetings and instructing
the parents on matters OF community
interest II is related that n success.
fu young teacher In remote local.
ity had wee ally meetings attended by
parents OF his pupils. which nnaliy
evolved into a school for parents
In which they were taught how TO live
a community life In Its broadost and
biggest sense,
Social Features Essential.
The successful rural school 10 the
vital socia, and economic center OF
the community and the successful
rural teach In the one who realizes
that the responsibility OF training To-
cal leaders for the future deVolves
upon him. Organized play. inter.
community athletics community fes.
tiyals. lyoeum and debating clubs. Y.
N. G. As, with occasional neiEhbor-
hood entertainments, utilizing home |
talent. contests In cooking and various |
other phases OF home economics. "a
corn and hog clubs and other agricul.
Iural activities are a few OF thesmeth.
DDS employed by the successful rural
teacher In stimulating interest ami
while teaching them the
fundamental principles OF successful
life.