Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-03-03
Commissioner Of Education Of
ferS Solution Of Pressing
Economic Problem ia CITY
and Suburban Life

D
ter school on Saturdays and DURING
the summer vacation
"Of the 100000 children between
| The ages Of and 20 I'm the cities
towns, manufacturing villages and SUI
hurban communities Of the United
States SAYS DR. ClaXton. mot more
| than ID per cent are away from home
curing the summer vacation or en-
gagod in regular cmpluymont The
remaining so per cent remain az home
without any useful, healthful, pro-
duetvc occupation requiring amy large
part ot their time on the other hand,
there is much valuable land in back
yards and vacant lots that rs serving
no useful purpose. The problem Is 10
bring this land and these children to-
gether
I'm every school and community
there should be- az least one teacher
who knows gardening both theorcti-
Cally and practically This teacher
should teach the elementary sciences
in the schools during he school hours
and should, out of schools hours. di-
rect the home gardening of the chill
dren between the ages OF Z or and
IA or 3. If possible the teacher
should have the assistance OF an OK
pert gardener so that the work may
be done In the most practical ana
profitable way. The teacher and the
gardener should help the children find
the plots of around in back yards.
front yards and vacant lots near their
homes best suited for gardening work,
aid them hy some cooperative
method 10 have the lots properly
ploWed and prepared for cultivation.
help them select seeds, show them
how to plant cultivate ana harvest. So
as to- obtain the best results.
Vegetables, berries and fruits
grown should be used first ms food for
the children and their families: then
the surplus should bee marketed TO the
best advantage. Through the help OF
The teacher This can be done IN "a CO.
operative way. Ten or fifteen cents
worth Of vegetables each dav from
the gardens on each of 200 children
would amount 10 $50 or $50. IN Che
summer and fan when the surplus
is large and cannot be marketed toI
advantage the teacher should direct
and help the children Ia canning ana
preserving for winter use on for sale.
The canning and tomato clubs OF tho
southern states bHYe already shown
what can be done In this way
1T Is difficult 10 estimate the re-
suits Of this plan when il SHAH BE in
fun operation throughout the coun-
try For the children it will mean
health, strength, joy in work. habits
of Industry, an understanding Of tho
value Of money as measured IN terms
of labor and such knowledge of the
phenomena and forces of nature as
must be had for an understanding of
f0N mi.
VIII also learn something at least of
the fundamental principle OF moral F
lty; that each individual must make
his or her own living. must, by some
Find of labor of head, hand on heart. F
contribute 20 the common wealth mn
much as he takes from f.. must pay
for what he gets i'm some kind of coin
This plan I'm full operation would f
probably de more toward Keeping
young children out of the factories
ana mills than all Of the child labor +
laws on the statute books a boy t0I
cor years of age with q quarter of +
an acre Of land working under careful
can produce more for tho
support Of tho family than could he
purchased with the ehild's wages from
the mill Children should not be
ground I'm the mills nor sweated in tho
factories. their strength should not De
sapped aud their nerves racked bv
working in the heat ana dust of In
doors, vet an children should learn 10
work it Is good for them and they
Joy IN H. 10 work with It's feet IN The
coil, its head In the sunshine, and us
lungs filled with good fresh mir is not
a bad thing for any healthy child.
This plan win also do much To
solve the problem of the idle negro. Z
A large part of the negroes of the
southern states live on the outskirts
of cities and small towns. Their /
'ahin homes are frequently on large f
ots ana surrounded with vacant lots
'oVered with weeds and rubbish Dur.
ng the vacation months the negro (
hildren roam idly on the streets. +
alling Into mischief and vice Under
roper direction they might make. on
hese back yards ana vacant lots
nougil TO support themselves and
more. "a the same time they would
beg kept from vice and would gain
iabits Of industry incidentally negro
luarters would Doe changed from
'laces OF usllness to places VI beau
Probably enc of The most valuable
esults Of this plan would be to make
easy for most children To- attend
ehOol three or -four years longer
han they do now. thing more and
more desirable. and social democracy
AN not be obtained before tho age of
adolescence. If a child can contribute
% its support while in school. Il may
emaln IN school much longer Than
II must be carried az o dead weight 4
NTH it quits school TO go 20 work.
Compared with the results the E.
ost VIII be inconsiderable. No addi-
ION To the number Of teachers will (,
Ie required II will only be necessary
% require different preparation for
me teacher in each school,"
In the estimates submitted To con- /,
'ress hy the commissioner of oduca-
ION for the support OF the bureau I'M Z
he next dscal year an ltcm Of $500 I
S included 10 enable the hureau 10
'egin the Introduction Of this kind !
4 work in the schools of the United h
Hates The commissioner believes that {
viii only be necessary to work out
ctails Of plans and 10 present them {
o school officers together with fun |
IL regard to results of {
similar work already done
/ various places
I
Seven Countries Ia Balloon Race.
Now York, March 2.-Seten coun-
ries ate expected to be representedt
Hs.N q MAJ. L.