The Denver star., 1914-02-21
BIG UPL|FT FOR
RURAL SCHOOLS
6ood Work Being Done by the
Supervising Teachers.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE

Thirty Counties In the Southern
States Reviewed by State Supervisor
jackson Davis of Virginia.
How Industrial training, under q sys-
tenn OF supervising industrial teachers,
has not only vitalized the rural schools
among the colored people into which
it has been introduced, but is also hav-
ing farreaching economic and social
effects on rural conditions generally,
is described by Jackson Davis, state
supervisor of elementary schools in
Virginia, in the Southern Workman.
Mr.. Davis says in part:
"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
1t was not until the establishment of
the Jeanes fund for rural schools that
a general effort was made in this di-
rection- In Henrico county, Va, in the
fall of 1908, following a conference of
the school officials Of the county with
agents of the Jeanes fund, a supervis-
ing Industrial teacher was employed
and put to work in all Of the colored
The pioneer work of Virginia Ran
dolph in overcoming the Indifference of
her own people, organizing improve
ment leagues at each school, introduc-
ing simple forms of industrial work
and In the enlistment Of the active in
terest of the white people in these ef-
forts for improvement in practical
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.
The general plan. SO successful in
its early demonstra ton. has continued
to grow and meet with approval. 1t
has developed initiative among the
colored rural people. and it has tied
better neiShborhood. 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
employ ed in 1870 counties in the south
cru s1Asss Inst session.
This work has been made possible
in most cases. by the Jeanes fund, but
the counties, as they see the splendid
results. are putting up more money
from local funds for the support of the
work. and in some counties the teach
er's salary is paid entirely from local
school funds In sending out trained
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 and better living.
The school is almost the only point
where. conscious effort is made by the
white Deople to influence and develop
the Negro race. and here is great op-
portunity for constructive work. as in
deed the supervising teachers are
showing. In organizing the school i'm
provement leagues they are bringing
the older people together in the inter,
est Of better things and are calling
forth the spirit Of self help, which is
Indispensable to their progress.
One of. the most promising develop
ments In the work has been the CO
operation of the supervising industrial
teacher with the farm demonstration
agent In working during the summer
months with clubs Of girls who make
home gardens and can their vegetables
and fruits for winter use. This fea-
ture OF the work was begun in Virginia
two years ago in four counties. Dur
ing the past summer it was carried on
in fourteen. Under this plan the in
dustTial teachers are employed for the
entire twelve 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 Tor their gardens and teach can
ming. cooking and sewing in their
homes.
THE teachers are in great demand
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
Either as tenants. owners or labor
ers the cOior.d people cultivate farms
in the south with an area Of 100000.
600 acres. This is an area equal to
four times the state OF Virginia. Much
OF this land. rs we know. Is cultivated
in the very poorest fashion We shall
have onesided cultivation as long as
we have twentieth century methods in
our cities and eighteenth century
methods on our farms.
"lf we deny the Ne.ro the training
which he needs to ,lake better citi
zen and a better man and better
farmer, we suppress our rural life and |
hold down our average to n lower level |
and we continue to have him wear out |
the soil which Is our greatest natural |
wealth Tcaining Of the right kina
that will replace obsolete uiethods with |
Intelligent methods. that will replace
Insanitnry cabins with good dwelling
houses neglectefi shncks with nffrnc- |