The Washington times., 1914-12-26
SOUTH SCHOOL WORK
SHOWS GREAT GAIN
Rockefeller Boards Report Re-
veaIs s1,2Oo,ooo Annual
Cost, From $4,000.

A summary of the efforts made to
promote education in the Southern
States is contained in an installment Of
the report Of the general education
board just made public. The report in
rart says:
Mr.. Rocaofeller's first gift TO the gen
crsl education board was designed to
aupport an inquiry into the educational
needs OF the Southern people. It soon
Decamc clear that adequate develop
rnents could not take place until the
available resources Of the people were
greatly enlarged.
These conditions were not primarily
duo to any lack of interest in popular
.oucation. The prime need was money.
The Southern farmer suffered from lack
Of scientific knowledge Of agriculture
snc training in soil cultivation.
Education of the Farmer.
1t therefore deliberately was decided
10 undertake the agricultural education
not Of the future farmer, but Of the
present farmer. on the theory that, if
he could be substantially helped, he
gladly would support better schools in
laore and more liberal fashion. The ex-
tension of the so-called cooperative
farm demonstration movement resulted
rom this investigation.
The United States Department Of
Agriculture became party to the ne
cessary arrangements. An agreement.
signed April 20, 1906, by the Secretary
IL Agriculture and the secretary of the
General Education Board, provided
hat the farmers cooperative work,
N which the General Education Board
g to become interested, shall be en-
yIrely distinct IN territory and fnance
from that carried on solely by ths
Department of Agriculture, and that
The United States Department Of Agri-
culture shall have supervision of the
ssents for this extended territory in
me same way that they are now ap-
pointed. and the said agents shall be
lnder control of said department in
every respect as fully as any Of the
gents of the department.
Demonstrations In Two WAYS.
'TIenceforth agriculture demonstra-
tons in weevil-infected States were
conducted with Government funds.
Agriculture demonstrations in non
infected States were supported by the
general education board. control of
10th being lodged in the Federal De-
partment OF Agriculture
In 1906 SIS farms were reached. A
year later 2,S2E: in 1905. more than
1000; IN 1910, GS.622: in 1912. I06.621
a " tANs I'VE NAAO0SalAt duulIS IN 1917
we're receiving instruction in Texas,
more than $4,000 in Oklahoma. more
than $1,000 in Arkansas: 1O.5OO in
Alabama, and 6,19G in Mississippi.
The initial appropriation of the
general education board in 1905 was
$1,000. At that time the Government
vas deyoting $4,000 10 demonstra-
ions directed against the boil weevil.
The board appropriated $4,000 the
next year. $4,000 two Years later,
KIN 0ft0 in p C0En nm IN
AClear Demonstration.
In less than decade, other sources,
that is, the Southern people themselves, |
were paying almost 30 per cent Of the |
total annual expenditure. approaching
. .3n.e1O. thus yindicating the policy on
= hich the board had acted.
The value of demonstration has been
so clear that the Federal Government
viii now take over and extend purely
educational farm demonstrations. Sue
scss has dissipated the constitutional
scruple that for the last ten years has
estricted governmental activities in this
erection to plague-infested States.
The final result will be diSappOint-
ing unless the movement is dominated
e. the spirit which was infused into il
by its founder; unleS the same stand
aTs OF fitness continue 10 prevail In the
selection of the evcr-incrcasing army of
r1Uloyes who will b required for its eN-
tuSion and tn same constant regard for
concrete results the test applied 10 the
yUtcome."