Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-11

IttIlng oil lSolAtlpn there goes lHc I''I-
ing of Independence because the country
people live, act and solve their problems
alone and after a while think that there
solution 10 the only one while business
men in the city get together and learn
to think and act together in team work.
The things needed is the socialization of
rural conditions. The woman living in
the country is equal mentally TO her sis
ters in the city and the great problem is
that of educating the country girl, MAX
ing the purity and beauty of hcr girlhood
into the fineness of wifehoud. To do this
1t is necessary to carry to this country
girl some Of the arts that pertain to the
household. Many subjects taught in tn"
high schools do not tend to do this and
every high school should teach the foun-
dation of household fundamentals and
it is to be hoped that the time will como
when no girl can graduate from the high
school until she has acquired a standing
i'm these subjects.
The city high srhnois tend to Lead the
country boy from farm work and make
him go to the city to seek employment
When the country hoy reaches the age of
T. years he passes from childhood to
Nouthhood and into a new stage and state
of life. lie is filled with the spirit of ac-
I comprising something and 1t is wrong
to pen him into a school room behind a
desk and require him to absorb lessons
In which he Is not Interested,
learned letter perfect and soon Tor
gotten. This boy will mot receive
legitimate training until hr is given
the opportunity OF vocational subjects
in which he has an interest Tho coun-
try boy entering high school is compelled
to study a course not adapted to him
but one which he must adapt himself
to and the subjects of which are foreign
to all of his experience gained i'm his
country home. When he graduates from
the city high school he is lienated from
country life and the town Where he was
raised has practically hired him. by
paying his tuition at high school, to 20
10 the city to seek employment for which
he has been fitted. And SO We ind as u
result that the country towns are being
drained of their youth until thcrc are
sections at the present time in the north
crn part of the State where but a few
years ago American families were con-
toni now occupied by foreigners who
have taken up the farms.
Tho education commission is working
with the idea OF bringing all boys and
girls above the age Of T. together at n
common center, where Instruction may
be Obtained in the manual arts, COM
mercial and domestic science courses.
What is needed in the country Is COM
munity lif" where the people may got
together. These ccntors are found In the
schools, churches ana IN tn" oranges
which should be federated with the
NomenS clubs. The one country institu-
ton is the country school. II is not
lust that the country child should j." dis
~rrln'nat'd against in education bat that
h" should have the same opportunities
as tho city BOY. hut he is Disseminated
against IN IN" number OF weeks of his
schooling, which are fewer. and I'm the
plant IN which he receives his learning,
nut worst Of all In the quality OF teach
ing h" receives. Any young girl who
car pass certain examinations is allowed
TO teach In the rural schools 10 work
ont her own salvation In the best way
possible without any special training.
The great trouble in this respect is the
question of salary, Maine being the
MY state north Of the Mason and Dixon
line which pays a lower scale of ages
to its teachers than Vermont. The coun-
try school should be a power and In
huence In its community. In closing the
speaker paid a tribute to the magnificent
work which the Women's clubs are doing
to assist in this work.
Following Mr.. stones lecture DELEGATES
from each of the states represented told
of the work being done In their STATE to
better the rural school conditions. Many
problems which had presented them
selves were spoken of and solutions
described whereby they were overcome.
Miss Torrill, who is chairman of the
home economies ommitt of the Yer
mont state Federation and chairman of
the home management of the general
federation, took for her subject, PRO
visions of the Smith-Iever Bin as APP
piled to Home Economics of state Fed
erations." She spoke in It most inter-
esting way of the great benefits which
would be derived by those Interested in
the home economies by the passage Of
this bill. y brief abstract of her talk
follows:
The federal government has set aside
n large sum, this year $1,000 being APP
portioned to each state to he spent bv
the agricultural college for extension
work., tho fund being divided I'm various
departments The proportion to be allow
ed the economic department was not set
by tn" government but left to the
discretion Of the directors of the col
lcres, There has been a fear by some
that the economic departments would re-
celve n meaEre allowance but while it
l.. ur,11 that the Unmtp 1iep1nN much