The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-08-03
TREND UF CLUB WORK.
Development of Social Side OF Rural Lie
Prominent Feature of Club Projects.

Development of Social Side of Rural Lie
Prominent Feature of Club Projects.
In the early development of the agri-
cultural club work the financial possioil-
tiles were usually stressed, and large
cash prizes were offered to induce young
people to enter into and complete the
various phases of club work. This
method of creating interest has fallen
into oisfavor. The tendency has been
" present the work on It's merits. The
desire on the part of club leaders and
other extension workers is that the men,
bers enter the work for the benefits to
be derived rather than IN The hope of
winning large cash prize.
The agricultural papers of the country
have published the financial side of the
work. The school authorities are more
and more approaching the educational
value of practical agriculture. Many
educators, who know the great need of
rural children for school training that
will fit them for their environment-life
on the farm-turn to the agricultural
club work as one of the means of vital
lzlng the work of the rural schools
especially those schools that are attempt
ing to teach agriculture without ade-
quate laboratory equipment. Such edu-
Gators see in club work means to the
end that the home farm of the student
becomes an efficient working laboratory
without the expense to the school sys
tenn. They have been convinced tina
the schools that are active In club work
are In general the most efficient schools,
ana that the pupils engaged In club work
are not only the best behaved but that
their scholarship grades are much high
ec than those of the non club memuers.
This comes from the fact that the neces-
sary motive is offered and the heart in
| terestS OF the children are engaged. As
a result, the school work and the home
lie OF the members are tied up very
closely and the relation between the two
is more firmly cemented. Club work is
an important spoke in the wheel of vo-
catlonal training which is rapidly being
rolled to the forefront of educational
endeavor.
The social side of club work is more
and more to receive the attention its i'm
portance merits The club groups in
practically every State of the Union are
holding regular monthly meetings under
the direction of some mature and eX-
perlenced leader I'm many cases school
teachers.) Officers elected from the
club membership preside and carry On
the meeting according to parliamentary
law. The programs, together with RET
erences and suggestions, are furnished
to the club each month by the State
agent. Each member reports the prog
ress of his or her work. Timely articles
OF instruction are presented by the mem
bers and by experienced adults. In
most of the Northern and Western
States the club meeting is divided into
three sections: First, business; second,
subject matter program; and. third, the
social program, suggestions being fur
nlshed by leaders on all three phases. AS
a rule, 30 minutes are used, giving 20
minutes to business, 40 to the subject
matter, and 30 to the social interests.
The local leader is always present at
these meetings to advise and dire ct
when necessary.
The association with each other and
with those taking part in the club pro-
gram causes the members to wear off
the rough corners of their social sida.
Inc individualistic tendency of the rural
people is thus weakened and the way to
rural cooperation ana organization is
paved. Strictly social meetings, picnics,
field days, etc, are held at various
times. Thus, the club work tends to
take an increasingly important part in
the development of the social side of
rural life. News Letter, U. S. Dept. of
Agriculture.