The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-03

ire the wisdom OF the step taken by
the Legislature OF 1911 in enacting h
law proyiding for the establishment
OF farm-life schools in North Caro-
lima. There mas perhaps never been
a moyemen, in the educational life
of the State that has met with such
general approval and which has in
SO short q time as three years demon
I arted is value to the people az have
tho farm-life schools.
Almost every day inquiries are re-
ceiyed al the office of the Superin-
fendent of Public instruction asking
for Information n literature about
the farm-life schools. and educational
Leaders all over the State are falling
into line and are demanding these
schools for their counties. At first
there was a great deal of opposition
70 the movement, especially as was
provided in the law passed by the Leg
stature OF 1911, and there are still
many good men who do not believe
that the farm-life school is the proper
thing for North Carolina. In some
counties when bond issue elections
were held, these were defeated, but
in these same counties, In some in
stances, farm-life schools are now be-
ing operated or preparations for their
operation are being made.
Since the Legislature. passed an act
for the establishment OF farm-life
schools, another plan has been adopt
ed Whereby the county commission
ers may set aside money without is
suing bonds. his plan has proved
very much more popular than the
original idea that was proposed, and
at the present time there are more
farm-life schools in North Carolina
operated under the new plan than
under the first one. Craven county
wa tho first county in the State 10
have a farm-life school under the
original law, and is the only school
now operating n under the law
passed in 1911. However, under the
new plan, known as the Guilford plan,
there are three schools in GuilfOrd
county. one in Durham. and another
in Iredell. Altogether, it is estimated
that there are as many as twenty
rive other schools now being prepared
for. In some instances bonds have al.
ready been voted, while in other:
the movement is just now beine
started, and nothing has been done
save the entering of the application
for the school.
The Legislature in 1911 did not &C
upon it's own initiative, but passed tn
farm-life school law because fort.
thousand farmers, through the farm
ers' unions Of the State, asked 70
these schools, indorsed this act, am
lnTOuSn COIIllIilttctS Vi NhC CNoS
Farmers Union earnestly p%resente'
TO the General Assembly their re
quests for its enactment.
leaders from the State SuperinteDd
ent Of Public instruction, on dow
through the county superintendent
TO the individual teachers in the pub
lie schools, made requests for tn
enactment of the law, and these re
quests were supplemented by resoiu
tons passed by the North Carolin
eachers' Assembly, and other educa
tional associations in the State.
The legislators themselves were NJ
unaware Of the fact hat four-fiftr
Of the people of the state are nun
bered among the rural population
and look to the soil for their dali
bread. More than eight-tenths {
he children Of North Carolina al
countr children. and these childre
are entitled to training about tt
soil from which they must earn the
living. Most Of them never Ia,
an opportunity of entering college, b
it is i'll the power of h State
furnish these farrn-life schools
which the children may be traint
and taught the cultivation of eve
plant, and of the best methods
filling the soil.
But the plan is not for the sta
TO appropriate enough money for Il
establishment of these schools wher
ever they are asked for. The tarT
life school law merely provides a W
whereby the farmers may themsclv
ny taxation az donation of funds {
tablish schools which Will guarant
every country boy and every cou
try girl a chance To learn more abe
their environment. and about I
world in which they live.
While the State does not furni
the necessary funds for the eStablis
ment and maintenance of the SchO
II lis nevertheless true that the 81
Of $4,000 annually is donated fr'
the State Treasury merely as a sti
illus to the people in the school q
trict where the Iarm-life school
established.
No appropriation from the State
available until the county,o 7
township, in which the school is
he located, has provided, either
bond issue, or by donation. or by b,
together. An equipment consisting G
school building. with recitation roo,
laboratories and APPARATUS ne cess