The Ordway new era., 1915-01-01
The Rural Teacher

The Rural Teacher
~ Peter Radsord
Lecturer National FArmers' Union
with the new development Of rural
life. there comes the demand for In
creased educational facilities and the
Impulse Of universal education which
b sweeping the country calls for In
tslligent and consecrated Leadership
In. our rural schools. 1t 10 upon the
rural teacher that one Of the heaviest
burdens Of civilization falls. for mot
only must he lay the foundation Of
sducation,. but he must also instill In
70 the pupils the real love for country
lifes which win hold them ON the
farm and help to stem the downward
HAs.
In the city. the teacher II . cog in
the vast wheel Of educational machin-
sry; In the country he IL the wheel.
It Il he who must mold the character.
inspire the ideals and shape the dss-
tiny Of the farm Boys and girls, and
Il he 4 lifted BY nature for the task.
not only will the results Of his sf.
forts be reflected In the pupils, but
gradually the whole community viii
b lsaysnsd with . nsv ambition for
progrsss. y
" He can organize sround the school
The main interssts Of the boys and
girls and develop the impulse for co
operation. which in time viii displaoe
The old competitive individualism and
make rural social life more eongsniai
and satisfying. The possibilitiss for
making The rural school the social
and economic center Of the commun.
ny ars almost endless, and tho facul-
ties Of the rurai teacher may hays
full play. for Il wfll take al his tims
and ingsnuity q he sttains the fun
measure of success. s. .-,sg
easse = csmadsa.ss LAsdse.
A noted college, psufsssoe rsosatly
said that three thihgs are now ~
CURED Of rural teacher. The Arst
requirement 4 that hs,muse ~ streng
enough TO establish himself - = lsad-
q in the community in which ~ lives
and iabofs; second. that hs must have
. good grasp on the orsanisation and
management Of the new and scientific
fafm school and. third. that he must
show expert ability in dealing with
tAs modern rural school curriculum.
II he lives mp To the opportunities Of.
tered him ~ . rural leader. he WIN
train boys and gina distinctly for
rural life. mot only By giving them
the rudiments Of Agricultural training.
but By enabling them to ses the at-
tractivs side OF farm life. and to rsal.
iDe that It ID . scientific business, and
one Of the most complex Of all pro.
fessions with opportunities - gssas
- those Of any other calling.
~seheoi fer parsnts" Nssdsa.
The duties Of the rural teacher are
moro varied and complicated than
those Of the city teacher and he some.
times has 70 include the parents In
directing his efforts for the best ~.
suits. In communities where ths OLD
or population Il opposed to any de-
parturs Of the younger generation
from ESTABLISHED customs in either
social Or economic life, their cooper.
ation can often be secured By calling
community meetings and instructing
tA4 parents on matters Of community
interest. It II related that success.
ful young teacher In . remote local
~ had weekly meetings offended By
parents Of his pupils. which finally
evolved into . school for parents.
N which they wsrs taught how to live
. community Life in its broadest and
bfkgsst sense.
Social Textures Essential.
The successful rural school II N,
vital social and economic center ~t
the community and the succSssfsl
rural teacher II the one who rsaNsps
that the responsibility Of training y.
cal leaders for the future devoivss
upon him. Organized play. intsa>
community athletics. community ~
Hvals, lycsum and debating clubs, Z.
II. G. As, with occasional nsighboe
Aool entertainments, utilising homa
oalsnt, coatssts in cooking and various
ethsr phases Of home economics, tn
con and hog clubs and other agf1cui.
tural activities are few Of the meth
ods employed By the successful rural
teacher IN stimulating interest and
enthusiast while teaching them the.