The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-20
Tri.State Grain Growers

anything of history or literature and
less of music and art. Of matters
pertaining to his home life upon the,
farm, he has heard almost nothing. 1t
cannot be justly said that the rural
child is illiterate, but he so close
to the border line of illiteracy that he
Is handicapped when he tries to meet
the requirements eXacted of him in
this twentieth century civilization.
THE secondary school system is in
adequate and has not kept pace with
the onward march of human needs so
as to fit the students for a life of serv-
ice and usefulness. Up to the present
time the general scheme Of education
seems to have been an united effort to
get away from work. Many parents
are making personal sacrifices in Or
der that their their children may re-
celVe an education, n are proudly
boasting the fact that they hope their
children may never nave to work as
they have. -"
Education must not seemingly at
tempt to avoid work. Neither must it
be a scheme whereby the easiest route
in life is to be pointed out. It's chief
function is to prepare people for a life
OF service and usefulness and the pres
emit day plans find that in this prep
aration the value of service cannot
be more effectively taught than by
performing such service while in the
training. Years of school are not spe-
cial years set aside for preparation for
life, but they are life itself. Modern
education is beginning to center it's
attention upon the child, and il n
effort is to be made in the aid Of a.
nation it must be made through the
days of childhood. Standards are set
for all breeds Of livestock, better corn
is being grown than ever before. all
are familiar with crop rotation terms.
tree surgery is, here to stay, but just
has improved is questionable.
So q brave stand must be taken and
this fact faced bravely-vocational
training will never put stock into a
race. II industry of mind and muscle
have not been thoroughly instilled
and allowed to permeate the sou of
all boys and girls before the age Of
IL: Knowledge acquired after that
age lacks the vitalizing force of UNI
s~elhshness and tends to lbe more self
centering. If the seeds of honest toll
are TO be sown in the youth Of this
lanu,. then let all, the supreme effort
OF thought, finance, and energy be
centered upon the child when he first
enters the school. Since a very small
percentage OF the rural children aver
complete the eighth grade and a great
er percentage Of them drop out about
the third grade; since a child's apti-
tudes are developed, his tastes acquir-
ed largely In the first years Of school
thRt most boys and girls reared
on a farm get no educational training
other than that given in the element
airy public school; then it seems reas-
enable to demand a change IN our
present system OF education.
1T is not dsirable nor would it be
wise for a teacher to try to. mould the
children into the occupations Of the
parents? Farm boys need not neces-
sarily become farmers, lawyers sons
be lawyers, doctors sons be doctors.
1t is a God given birthright that each
man MAJ become what he desires ais
long as he faithfully 4lurtures and
guides all his energies. No destroy
ing hand must be permitted to strike
that grand heritage Of Americanism
from our school system. But the stress
of modern education must no be on
the unnaking of farmers as 1t Is plain
lily evident that UP to the present time