The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-04-03
IMPROVING THE
RURAL SCHOOLS.

anthropiSt of New Orleans, is CeVot-
ing his money and energy to the bet
torment of rural schools. He pays the
salary and expenses of county agents
in various parts of Louisiana, Missis-
sippi and Georgia, who go about
among the schools and farms and felp
to improve things. These agents
work in connection with county
schools superintendents. He finds
the old folks too often self opinion
ated, and unwilling to adopt new and
better methods, but in the young peo-
pie there is chance to create new
era in line with modern thought. 1t
more rich men would use their sun
earned increments" as Mr.. Nelson is
using his surplus, what change
could be effected in country as well
as in town life.
There is urgent need in some loca-
lities of getting away from antiquat-
ed methods and the ideas some men
have of good old times" There new
er were any good old times. The
hour has come for people, particular
~ the "know it all" kind, who have
travelled so long in rut, to look up
at the sun, if not for themselves for
the sake of their children who must
succeed them, and who too under han
dicap, if they continue in the rut,
must fight for existence in days to
come when brought face to face with
more intelligent methods practiced
elsewhere. 1t is matter of the sur
vival of the fttest-ignorance must
succumb to intelligence.
A new thought ought to predomi-
nate in a coordinate and co-opera-
tive manner whereby all interests
might join to free the unprogressives
from the crudeness, prejudice and err
rors of the past-from the stupidity
of the present-to let them grow and
expand, and see things with both eyes,
and grasp and understand some of
the wonderful beauties, opportunities
and uses of nature. Mental visions
grow warped and distorted with the
ignorant and endless routine of the
-after-day way of doing, and I'M
knowingly and unwittingly men sink
into an abyss from which there is
no resurrection.
The preacher in his pulpit, the
teacher in his school, the merchant
in his store, the editor at his desk,
each has a duty to perform in this
matter, and the idea that what is
no mans business except those con-
cerned should be let alone, ought to
be exploded very effectively, and the
sooner it is the better for the world.
In these days of the distribution
of knowledge and the broadening in
tellectuality in some sections and
among some of our people, it is sad
to see the depredations still wrought
by men whose ideas and actions fall
but little short of the pin-headed no.
tons that prevailed in the days when
withcraft predominated and suffer-
ing people under practical leadership
had to adopt strenuous methods to
eradicate the stupid, harmful, idiotic
doctrines that threatened to engulf
the world in a vortex more danger
Gus than any known whirlpool. With
the developments of the present day
in different communities, it seems
that it is time to at least institute
new theme in teaching clear away the
debris of ancient doctrines and false
ideas from the minds of the coming
generations and teach them the truth
land the truth shall make you
free"
Following are extracts from let
ter written to Secretary Folsom of
our Board of Trade by Mr.. Nelson,
and every word should be read and
carefully considered:
"Our plan is to help in adjusting
the common schools to rural needs,
to organize social life, to improve
housekeeping and farming, and to en-
courage cooperation among farm
erS.
Rural life in the South has not
kept pace with the towns and cities.
There are abundant natural resources
for many times the present farming
population, and several times more
income for each. Lanier said truly,
There is more in the man than there
is in the land 1t is our mission to
help inspire and prepare the present
and the coming man to make good
use of the land. We shall thus retain
him in the country and save him
from the city.
"A town population dependent on
wages has in each turn of civiliza-
tons wheel, been the problem of dis
tress, degeneration and fall. We are
repeating the process. The agencies
of relief and regeneration multiply
in every city of the world, but the
problem intensifies still faster. The
drift from the country exceeds even
the rapidly growing openings for
town work. The town is on the
whole so demoralizing and debilita-
ting that cities would die out were
they not fed by the red blood of the
country. The capable and ambitious
are drawn by the glittering prizes of
wealth and social position, the weak
lings are tempeted with high wages,
weekly pay, and ready-made job.
In either class most of the allure
ments are illusory, they turn to dead
sea fruit. 1t is the glimmer of the
electric lights on the face of the
morgue, yelling its gruesome contents
"The country is beautiful, prolific