New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-04
An Open Forum for
Public Debate.
BACK TO FARM FROM sCH0o
City Children Should Have the Coua
Training in School Farms.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The thought that stands out 4
haps the strongest among many sugss
tiCns as 10 the economic Independents
most of our population is that Of
bach to the land movement Then
absolutely no question as 10 the statenx
that any healthy human being betrs
the ages Of fourteen and sixty can 50
tain LIE in independence by a proper .
OF the soil.
In manufacturing industries there ms
necessarily be times Of nOn-employmsa,
but while agriculture has It's ups AL
downs. abject poverty, such as exists
the gieat cities, is much less commoa I
the country than in such centres.
Our common school system OF edgcsl
ton. n the city and country alike is ver
simila Al the tendencies are 70 OIL. The
brain with masses Of uncorrelated facts
without stimulating the creative faculties
The ehild knows. on a map what NJ
whole country looks like but in no W
way. The boys and girls see pictures
wheat growing. but city children ooh
know the difference IN the field oet"es'
wheat oats and rye. Perhaps this Is 20
broad a statement. but the sense OF Id
statement is true
The country child is much better o.
than Inc city bred child, and the resAp
Of the different training tell IN after h''
II is a common observation that the coun
try boy distances the city boy "hen VT
struggle for supremacy comes. There az
OF course. exceptions to all rules.
We say as TO the city children. CIV
them Fairgrounds or their lives VII y
stuntd. Yes. give them more than GU
Fairgrounds; give them the great pay
ground and workground OF nature o.
county.
We educate city children 10 the poini G.
nervous wrecks by stufiing their inte!lei'
with nncorrelated facts. while the srea
symphony Of nature. the giyer OF wtalt
and energy, our broad fields. IS unknosn
Our agricultural schools and colleges VI
never do the work Every city and ever
county child should be taught the gree
truths OF nature. the song OF the scSs'
the thrill OF the reaper. by contact VII
the source OF our existence, the iefN'
soil.
The country lad absorbs a grea, deal
the true essence OF nature by actual COZ
tact. and has in addition book learn'''
The csty child has only the latter. "H,'
has tie better education IN Fundamentals
The city lad must unlearn much u
country lads learns truth from direct ''i
tact, not second hand. Books NAV s'1'
untrKhs: nature never does.
Let US give our city boys and gus
equal chance with those OF the co1gp'
Let Is OF the city establish our count
school farms. where every chic Oe'"''
the ages OF eight and sixteen may spe'
at least two months OF each year " "
euctve agriculture and nature contact
Have in the two months i've days w,
week, ana lull WIN N"s"'
children In outdoor life as much As u
s!bl,. Let living quarters be piaih' -.
plan, plenty OF bathing. and have s".,
ming taught; but. above ALL MAKE !.
Children work hard and really proo',.
Tie day of the desplsed couhu' y
has passed or is passing. The el's "
beE the factory hand. IS no better ', !,
as good as the farmland. The Gay v !.
intelligent farmer. stock raiser dail, - !.
scientific agriculturlst. Is here. WIZ" !.
DAY OF the intelligent and skiiiea !"
clanic. Perhaps the brain power u %
Is alike; we will assume II is' Du'
farmer. with his problems dlversins '',,
in an infinitely more enviaoie
tlan the factory worker.
The day OF the automobile tar"'s'. a.,
cultivated farmer. even the Europe - :,
sled farmer. Is here. The farmer F"
becoming our best type OF arls'ociS,
.ristocrat with no sting in the name
only healthy. righteous envy oy us
city, ,xcE
GEORGE wHlTEFlELD ChN ., !.
a West 3itk st New York A"r''