Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-09-18
The. RURdL TEACHER
Bears Heavy Burden of
Civilization.
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
is sweeping the country calls for in
telligent and consecrated leadership
in our rural schools. Il 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
tide.
In the city, the teacher is a cog In
the vast wheel of educational Iaachin
cry; in the country he is the wheel
t is he who must mold the character,
inspire the ideals and shape the des-
tiny of the farm boys and girls, and
if he is fitted by nature for the task,
not only will the results of his Ell
forts be reflected in the pupils, bui
gradually the whole community will
be leaveled with 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-
ity are almost endless, and the tacul-
ties of the rural teacher may have
ill Ray, for it will take all his timt
ind ingenuity if he attains the full
measure of success.
Must Be Community Leader.
A noted college professor recently
said that three things are now re
uuired OF a rural teacher. The first
requirement is that he mu-: be strong
enough to establish himself as lead
| r in the community in which he lives
nd labors; second, that he must have
i good grasp on the organization and
management CT the new and scientific
farm school and, third, that he must
show expert ability in dealing with
If he lives up to the opportunities OF
iorei him as a rural leader, he viii
rain boys and girls distinctly TO.
rural life, not only by giving them
ne rudiments of agricultural training
but by enabling them to see the at.
tractive side Of farm life, and to real
ize that it is scientific business, and
one of the most complex Of al pro
essions with opportunities as great
us those of any other calling.
"SchocI for Parents" Needed.
TIE duties of the rural teacher arc
more varied and complicated thar
hose OF the city teacher, and he some
ines has to include the parents ii
lucCIluS LIS SIOi Us LII Lt4S uSSl Ie
suits. In communities where the old
er, population is opposed to any de
,arture Of the younger generation
rom established customs in either
social or economic life, their cooper
alton can often be secured by calling
community meetings and instructor:
The parents on matters of community
interest. 1t is related that a success.
.ul young teacher in remote local.
;ty had weekly meetings attended by
parents of his pupils, which finally
evolved into a school for parents
in which they were taught how to live
community life in its broadcast and
biggest sense.