The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-13

The campaign for the removal of illit- eracy brings up for consideration many phases, of country life especially, that must be taken into consideration-for this campaign should not be merely to teach people to read and to write and thus be technically literate. It should go much farther than that and be really cam paign for education, with all that that means. Chief among these related sub jects is the matter of conditions of living In the country districts
 A study of this subject has been made by J. B. Hobdy, state agent of rural schools. MT Hobdy has given the mat ter thoughtful study and in the following article he discusses some deduction rom his investigations.
 "A question of the nature of the one I am to discuss is one about which too much has been written from a theoretical standpoint and too little from facts at first hand, and in dealing with it one is aT{, to magnify extreme cases in present. Ing real conditions. In order that might not be guilty of that fault took occasion sometime ago to secure first hand infor-
 
 eral homes in practically every county In Alabama.
 .'The information was secured in order that I might discuss this subject before the State Land congress, an organization laboring for the upbuilding or the state and working under the campaign slogan, "A billion dollars added to the landed wealth of Alabama" It was my purpose In presenting the facts collected at that time to show that the home, the mother, and the child the farm, the school, and the church are factors which must be reckoned with in the campaign the con gross was launching. l took the position that in their plans-so far as they dealt with questions pertaining to land values, desirable settlers, the high-cost-of-lVlns problem and the growing of various field crops and improved live stock-they were dealing with a complex educational prob- lem touching every phase or rural life, and that all educational social and econ- pmic influences were determining factors In giving to country life country civlli- Eation which is to be demanded if the "call of the soil is to be needed by those dependent upon 1t.
 To obtain the information desired, had 4o2 copies of a questlonnaire mailed to the principals and teachers of the various county high schools and district agricultural schools of the state, as well as to a few rural high school teachers. Six copies were sent to each principal, with the request that they be given to pupils attending their schools from farm homes, three to boys and three to girls, that none be given to pupils who lived within a distance less than three miles of an incorporated town, and that the teach CT assist only to the extent of explaining the meanings of the questions.
 'I had a three-fold purpose in seeking |. .t-.l. .l4. .,.,f i1C First I believed the rural problem to be one of the child and the mother, and especially for the child; second I knew that those pupils who attended high schools were usually from the best rural homes and l thought they would give conditions affecting the better class of homes. and therefore not exaggerated; ; and third, I desired replies from high school pupils because I knew they could give intelligent answers without assist Rnce.
 HOusework
 ''Of the 4o2 copies of questions. S49 were returned, almost all of them with answers hs full. Of the replies to the inquiry as to the pupils proposed life work, 146 said they intended to teach; 52 would farm; SS would enter professional work; B would follow industrial occupations other than those of the farm; 72 were undecided fI IS SlSDllltdnl tO nblt lHtl Ol lnt IN who expected to be teachers. only 45 de- sired to teach in the country.
 Back of these answers are doubtless reasons which must be charged asaiiis. country life. In order that we may be able to plan remedies for undesirable con ditions. it becomes necessary for us to know the conditions and their causes.
 Much has been written about the drudgery worn housewife and the self o,fi ioi ,otb bar ic l,o eb l. ders that many of our recent writers have placed responsibility for the deserted country home. I believe that my search for information on these lines will show to what extent many of these wives and mothers are justified in being dis satisfied with home conditions in the rural districts.
 ''rhe replies In this questionable show that 215 mothers in the 349 homes do all the house work. including washing, iron ing, cooking and scrubbing, and in ad- dition do the other household duties in cumbent upon them. Forty-fve reported that all the work except washing Is done by the mother and daughters; 63 have washing and ironing done for them; 4i do all the work except ironing and cook ing; nine others receive help in some part of the house work. and only sever Of the 349 have all the housework done bN hired help. leaving them time for tn care of their children. for leisure and fol experimenting.
 "The distances from the kitchen to thu wei, ranged from a few feet to 40 yards The average distance of the farm wifi from the water supply is S1 feet. Twenty eight of those reporting said that wate ds carried by hand 300 feet or more; 5 reported water carried 150 feet or more while only nine or less than 3 per cent