The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-01-24

"A few efforts had been made here
and there throughout the south to tie
up the work of the country school to
the life of the home and the farm, but
it was not until the establishment OF
the Jeanes fund for negro rural
schools that a general effort was made
in this direction. In Henrico county.
Virginia, in the fall of 1908. following
a conference of the school officials of
the county with agents Of the Jeanes
fund, a supervising industrial teacher
was employed and put to work in all
Of the colored schools of the county.
The pioneer work of Virginia RAN
dolph in overcoming the indifference
of her own people, organizing inn
provement leagues at each school. in
PRODUCING simple forms of Industrial
work, and in the enlistment OF the
active interest Of the white people in
these efforts for improvement in prac-
teal ways, met with such success that
a new spirit was soon ablaze in each
colored community, and the schools
were transformed in appearance and
in the general character Of their work.
Other counties all over the south have
taken up this work through the aid Of
the Jeanes fund and pronounced 1t
good.
"The general plan, so successful in
its early demonstration, has continued
to grow and meet with approval. 1t
has developed initiative among the
colored rural people: and 1t has tied
their interests together in a school for
a better neighborhood. The moral ef-
feet has been noticed by the white
people around them, and their support
Of this movement has been hearty.
supervising Industrial teachers
were employed in 100 counties in the
southern states last session. This
work has been made possible in most
cases by the Jeanes fund. but the
counties. as they see the splendid re-
suits, are putting up more money
from local funds for the support of
the work, and in some counties the
teachers salary is paid entirely from
local school funds.
'In sending out trained colored
teachers to supervise the rural schools
we are putting the best leadership Of
the negro race to work in the task Of
bringing about better training. better
farming. better living among the ne
groes in the country districts.
1.-The school is almost the only point
where conscious effort is made by the
white people to influe nee and develop
the negro race. and here is a great
opportunity for constructive work. as
indeed the supervising teachers are
showing. In organizing the school
improvement leagues they are bring
ing the older colored people together
in the interest of better things, and
are calling forth the spirit Of self
help which is indispensable to their
progress.
Zone Of the most promising de-
velopments in negro education has
been the cooperation of the super
vising industrial teacher with the
farm demonstration agent, in work.
ing during the summer months with
clubs of girls who make home gar
dens and can their vegetables and
fruits for winter use. This feature of
the work was begun in Virginia two
years ago in four counties. During
the past summer it was carried on in
IA. Under this plan the industrial
teachers are employed for the entire
12 months. At the close of the school
term they organize garden clubs
among the larger girls. They visit
them in their homes. meet them in
groups, give them practical instruc-
ton for their gardens, and teach can
ming, cooking, and sewing in the
homes. The teachers are in great de-
mand during the summer months, not
only among the girls, but among their
mothers as well, for they too have
been eager to learn the government
way of canning vegetables.
Negroes, either as tenants, owners
or laborers, cultivate farms in the
south with an area of 100000
acres. This is an area equal to four
times that Of the state of Virginia.
Much Of this land, as we know, Is cul.
| tivated in the very poorest fashion
We shall have q one-sided civilization
+, as long as we have twentieth century
methods in our cities and eighteenth
century methods on our farms. II
we deny the negro the training which
| he needs to make a better citizen and
| q better man and a better farmer. W.
suppress our rural life and hold dowI
our average to a lower level, and W,
continue to have him wear out thu
soil. which is our greatest natura
| wealth. Training of the right kline
that will replace obsolete method
with intelligent methods, that will re
place insanitary cabins with respecta
BILE homes. neglected shacks with at
tractive school houses. superstition
religion with an intelligent work TO
the coming of the Kingdom OF God o.
earth-this is the rural civilization
which some think must be wrought q
by a miracle, but which nevertheless
seems to be slowly evolving as q resul
of the new type of education which
have attempted to describe"
EYESIGHT AND AUTO DRIVERS