The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-05-04

school term Is 90 AIOIleAAS' - go
average enrolment of 54.5 and an
average daily attendance OF 2S:6
pupiIs in each school. These facts II
even approximately correct. show that
a very large majority of the chlldren
of the rural South are still taught IN
isolated small groups In one room
houses by immature. unframed, un-
derpaid teachers, the majority OF
whom shift every year-only a very
small minority teaching in the same
community long enough to do any con-
tinuous constructive progressive work
for school or community or to find
out the conditions and needs of these;
that these country children attend
school i~rregularly for less than haiI
Of each year: a large majority or
them completing only three or four
grades of scholastic work.
Needs of All the People.
ANY civilization is decadent and
destined to ultimate dissolution that
does not provide adequate means Tor
| ministering prOpOrtionately to n hu-
man needs Of all the people. econom-
ic, intellectual, social, spiritual.
| springing out Of the triune nature OF
man-body. mind, and soul. These
| conditions in the rural South cry aloud
for speedy improvement to real friend
| of the South and of our common cOun-
try that is not blinded by provincial
] and sectional vanity can doubt, nor
| can he in the light Of history doubt,
thai this Improvement must be an or
ganized growth from organic forces
cooperating from within States and
counties and communities. AS friends
and lovers of our community, our
State, our section and u common
country it behooves us to face these
conditions %candidly and take COunSe
and action together for improving
them. What then are some Of the
agencies and forces that may be
commanded and organized for their
Improvement, and what are some OF
the most effective means and plans
for their organization and direction?
In his Evolution Of the Country
Community" Warren Wilson has we'll
said:
This problem is first Of all an
economic one, involving the making
Of a sufficient profit out Of soil and
plant and animal-the three great
sources of wealth for every rural COM
munity, and for the world, and the
saving of a sufficient surplus each
year to provide the means to meet
the demands and to maintain the
agencies of a higher civilization. The
farmer lives closest to these greatest
sources of wealth, but as a rule, get
less profit from them han almost
any other class. Better living in the
country involves better farming and
better business-these involve in
creased agricultural production and
Investigation through scientific ag-
r%iculture, better agricultural distrl-
, button through scientific marketing
! better agricultural financing through
l rural credit associations, and coop.
E erativ banking. ALI Of these in turr
! involve demonstration, instruction co.
y operation. All agencies for demon.
! stration and instruction like demon.
u stration farms, demonstration agens
farmers institutes etc, marketing an(
: manufacturing associations, like co
operative creameries, should be fos
I tered and encouraged. Back Of this
e whole question, however, Of better
farming and better marketing, bettel
) agricultural, financing and increased
a industrial prosperity in the country
> lies the question Of intelligence, with
); out which, leadership, organization
cooperation and efficiency are impos
8 sible. Agricultural and industrial
y prosperity alone, will not hold peopl
in the country, nor bring people t,
- the country. It often sends peopl
from the country to seek and fin,
= elsewhere. the desirable things in civ
- - lllzat1on that individual wealth alon
=; cannot supply and can not comman,
II in the country. Perhaps more goo,
= and prosperous people leave tn
= country on account Of lack of school
~ n churches n social advantage
- than for all other causes. These cuI
< tural agencies and institutions, there
- fore, must be supplied in the count1-
= both for economic prosperity and 70
a. spiritualizing that prosperity so AS +
- make a civilization in the countr
- ministering to the higher needs q
50 man and having in it holding, unity
a ing and satisfying power.
IN ~
f Schools and Churches Lead.
The most important agencies there
u fore, for fostering and preserving
ed better rural civilization are bette
of rural schools and better rural ch1,rct
es.
rs, A rural school with house eno,o,
Sc land enough, teachers enough, Chi