The farmer and mechanic., 1915-06-08
Teaching The Rural Negro
To Stand Without Props
Bv E. e. WITHERSPOON

What we are trying TO do here is TO
get rid Of jack legs" We want TO
make farmers and carpenters, COOKS
and housekeepers But we 90 not
want 'iack-leg' farmers and house
keepers We have too many Of them
now" These were the words of Ber-
ry O'Kelly. founder OF the Berry
O'Kelly Industrial Training School. at
Method. in explaining TO visitors last
week the purpose OF the SchOOl ana
why he has invested 50 much OF his
time and money here. The above cut
shows the next step in his idea A
modern brick building to cost ten
thousand dollars is to be the first
OF number of buildings. all dedicat-
ed TO teaching the negro boys and
girls that their salvation lies in the
country and Of how to make sue
cess out Of farm life. The founder
of the school and those whom he has
gathered about him from among his
own race in Wake county expect to at
tract the attention Of the nation to the
efforts Of the negro to work out his
own industrial future. In fact, in
certain measure. they are already at
tracing such attention. Some day this
may mean gifts Of thousands Of dol
lars from rich patrons Of education.
Rural education in Wake county
takes high rank in then alton. The
United States Department of Educa-
ton takes cognizance Of it in bull
letiu sent broadcast over the land.
The Saturday Evening Post saw fit
recently to give it high mention in
its leading article. The efforts Of
Berry O'Kelley and those associated
with him at Method are part of this
system. He has given ten acres OF
a. fine land as may be found in Wake
county to the school for school farm.
This is now covered with a rank
growth Of clover, in full bloom and
more than half waist high. Another
crop will be grown there this year.
Community Idea Stressed.
Community work is part of this
same wonderful system Of rural up
lift work. This idea is being stressed
strongly here. The domestic science
department has outgrown the school
and has reached out and taken hold
OF the grown-up girls and women OF
the community Every week these
meea and take lessons in how tC
care for their children. cook meal
make garment or a garden and dc
many. many other things. Righ
here is where an official of the count,
educational forces is getting in som'
strong licks.
Supervisor Sadie l.. Delaney has pu
quite a lot of them and etaoin7nS90:
quite a lot Of time and effort into thi
community, recognizing it as a foca
point Of the rural negroes of Wax
county. The smallest school child i
taught to do little household tasks an,
the result is that when she enter
the domestic science department sh
is very apt pupil for the funda
mentals have already been learned
The corporation she is lending t
Rezecca Pride, the teacher OF thi
branch has counted so far for much
Canning clubs have been organize
here and throughout the county an
valuable work is being done. Sh
teaches the women Of her race t
gather the wild berries of the fiel
and preserve in such manner as
make splendid food. The shucks froY
the corn ears that would go to vast
are made into door mats and thes
find ready sale. while it takes but
few minutes to make one. For severe
years she has been engaged in tn
work and outside recognition has com
several times lately in offers of hghe