The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-08-13

In speaking Of the nav In which
the lure OF the country can he made
more attractive To the country child
tnan the lure OF the ciiY, IL must lie
remembered thai there arr two dirsc-
ti0hs IN which the modern movement
Tot rural betteTment must work. One
way - 10 cut out, or soften. many OF
the unnecessary disadvantages Of
country life, tile other way II u lay
stress on us advantages and possibili.
ties.
And here se come right up against
the ilaFd-baked crust Of county con-
servatisn. When the average farmer
Thinks that thing Is impractical
and that 1t will not work because he
fias never seen 10 work, then ali heay.
en and earth and the waters under
the earth cannot convince him TO the
contrary. This Missourian quality
81 "sotncss' and ~ wanting To he
shown" has Its good points, no
doubt. IL Is a quality also shared by
that very useful quadruped the gov.
eminent mule
However, 1t Is part OF tile work OF
The new order OF rural teachers to
show these good people. Once
shown. tLeae sane klekers and balk.
srs make the best kind Of puIIers and
workers
MI the country over, In practically
every state, this idea Of tie 81 hool
as social center Is rapidly gaining
groutd. Nineteen years ago, at Hes
peria, Michigan, there was Urganiz.
ed tile Teachers and Patrons Asso-
citation. Entertainments ~ere given
at which subjects were discussed
partly in specialized educational
problems and partly In farm and
hou topics. The people, at first,
we're apathetic; but with success
came enthusiasm and with enthusi-
; asm, OF course, came success. II
that little town, II miles from a rail-
road, have been brought statesmen,
orators, entertainers and educators
Of national fan to address the meet.
ings Of the association.
}, The llespsrian movement resulted
Ia more efficient teachers, better
l school prem Uses more liberal and 10
I leiligent school officers. IL mas ais
resulted in better managed farms
better livestock, better. roads, better
homes IN genera. and 4 better stand
} ard Of living In u country commune
\ ~
\ As say, this Is no new movement.
I Il - being ATTEMPTED IL hundred Of
rural CONN unitiss ami IT can tie car
Z ried out In your own district,
The movement might begin ~itli
J the organization OF some kind OF 1T
\ srary and social club 10 hold regular
meetings In the schoolhouse, From
Z That beginning NAV spring shoots,
Z such asa Noman's Club, clubs for
? the children, reading circle anu
} similar institutions which all have
\ their effect on community life.
Young people In the country and
( not only the young people-need some
variety from ths dtab-culured monot.
? ony of farm and hume chores. can
} feel certain amount Of sympathy
for the e0uutFyMdn who launches out
( on highly hilarious sea OF sooiahil.
& ny when he sees the bright lights OF
Z twOn, and | can sympathize with the
? country boys aud girls who are crazy
} to dance all night, In the early
stages, the social movement may mol
4 appeal very strongly to that class OF
( people, but "A little leaven will event.
( ually leaven the whole lump.
( In an address at Cornoll before tn,
, School fur Leadership In CountT,
\ Life, Or, l.. II. Bailey who is 4
, leader In this counlry life movement
y said that state plan seems neces
< sary la order to yet the uest results.
z said and he outlined four ways Ia
Y which the movement might be pro
y motsd, First open the school Tor II,
y discussion. Second, there Is need 81
lSt-PFNA0biNF "tEA w All tHANtNNla
4 esntering In agriculture. la THU
q way the farming intersts will go far
4 IN solving the problem among them
y selves, Third, there should he NOR,
- or less special schools, dealing with
= matters Of Agricultural interests, rs
tahlished in different parts OF th,
state ami they should 0e ~ell equip
=. ped Tor the work thsV are intended t.
, do. Fourth; extension work, mor,
;. OF less of Which is being carried OF
;. new In the agricultural colleges q
;. the country. And speaking OF ex ten
). sion work, Why not Public Schou
:. Extension work Tor the large arn,l
;. ct young people wlIo drop out hefor,
,. the completion OF The rural schoo
:. coursey Ii Is too VISIONARY g. thinG
, of rural schrol district. where cours
, eS OF study ia practical suhlscti
;. might he taught b, rural teachers
,. Who have permanent homes in thsi
=. districts and a NuFtb. ahile - s,tioa
;. Those teachers should be assisted Ia
~ their work by locAl experts, men VIII,