The Ordway new era., 1914-09-18
The Rural Teacher
Bears Heavy Burden
BY Peter Radford

| BY Peter Radford
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
ID sweeping the country calls for In
telligent and consecrated leadership
In our rural schools. 1t 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 In
to the pupils the real love for country
life, which will hold them ON the
farm and help to stem the downward
dde.
In the city, the teacher is q cog In
the vast wheel of educational machin.
cry: in the country he is the wheel.
II is he who must mold the character.
inspire the ideals and shape the deg
tiny of the farm boys and girls. and
IL he is fitted by nature for the task.
not only will the results Of his ef-
forts be reflected In the pupils, but
gradually the whole community will
be leavened with q new ambition for
progress.
He 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 individualism and
make rural social life more congenial
and satisfying. The possibilities for
making the rural school the social
and economic center of the commun-
fty are almost endless. and the facul.
ties of the rural teacher may have
full play, for 1t will take all his time
and ingenuity II he attains the full
measure Of success.
Must Be Community Leader.
A noted college professor recently
said that three things are now re-
quired of a rural teacher. The first
requirement Ia that he must be strong
enough to establish himself as . lead
er in the community in which he lives
and labors; second, that he must have
good grasp on the organization and
management OF the new and scientific
farm school and. third, that he must
show expert ability in dealing with
the modern rural school curriculum.
II he lives up to the opportunities Of
tered him as q rur.l leader, he will
train boys and girls distinctly for
rural life. not only by giving them
the rudiments Of agricultural training,
but by enabling them to see the at
tractive side OF farm life. and to real.
Ice that 1t is a scientific business, and
cne Of the most complex of all pro
fess.ons with opportunities as great
az those Of any other calling.
"sehooi fer Parentt" Needed.
The duties OF the rural teacher arc
more varied and complicated tnan
tnose Of the city teacher. and he some.
tlmes has to include the parents In
directing his efforts for the best re.
suits. In communities where the old.
er population is opposed to any de-
parture Of the younger generation
from established customs in eitaer
social or economic life. their cooper
alton can often be secured by calling
community meetings and instructing
the parents on matters Of community
Interest. It Is related that . success.
full young teacher in . remote local.
ity had weekly meetings attended by
parents Of his pupils. which finally
evolved into school for parents"
in which they were taught how to live
. community life in its broadest ais
biggest sense.
Social Features Essential.
The successful rural school IL ths
vital social and economic center @.
the community and the successful
rural teacher il the one who realizss
that the responsibility Of training b.
cal leaders for the future devolvss
upon him. Organized play. inter.
community athletics. community fss.
dvals, lyceum and debating clubs. r.
N. c. AS. with occasional neighbor
hood entertainments. utilixing homo
talent, contests In cooking and various
other phases Of home economies. in
corn and hog clubs and other agricul-
turai activities are a few Of the meth.
DDS employed by the successful rural
teacher In stimulating interest and
enthusiasm while teaching them the
fundamental principles of successful
community life.
TSo irt Ia hna}pnGa