The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-21
BY the United States Bureau of
Education and a Certain
National League.
tsrre,AL IL I'M rrLsoaAl.

gu StateB bureau or EQucatlOni 70
operating with the National Forward
to-the-Land League, has Just becom
instrumental in the development Of
plan that will establish idealizet
rural schools as community centers II
model settlements that are beinl
planted by the league. In which immi
grants and deserving Americans witt
limited means will get a chance tt
acquire farm homes and earn good llv
ings from the soil.
/ DR.. P. P. Claxton, United State
commissioner Of education. is a mem
Der OF the advisory board OF the league
His Office will furnish plans for the
school houses to be built and will sent
a representative TO organize the edu
cational systems. Dr.. Claxton, dis
GUESSING the plans Of the league as re
CARDS the establishment OF rura
schools, said
Greatly Interested.
II am greatly Interested in the
school program OF the league, as II
has been outlined to me by Mrs. Havi'
land il. Lund, It's secretary, and will
be glad to furnish plans for the schoo
houses, make suggestions and hell
develop the school system In thest
communities. Judging by what have
learned Of the purposes Of the league
there probably would be enough chill
dren in each settlement for a school
with two to four teachers. With a
school house in the center Of com,
munity covering ten or twelve square
miles, few, II any, Of the children
would have to travel more than mile
and half to and fro. Except in thu
worst Of winter weather, this is moi
too far for even the smallest child.
"a good school house should b.
built, attractive and comfortable, Will
careful regard to sanitation, with class
rooms, laboratories and library, also
an assembly hall large enough moi
only to seat all the pupils comfort
ably. but to serve as a meeting plac'
for adults. The teachers home should
be neat and attractive and Of pleasing
architecture, so as to serve as ar
example for the community.
Small Farm.
1.-THE school equipment should in
clude a small farm Of. say, four o.
five acres in trucking or thickly'
settled section and considerably larg,
err, twenty-five to fifty acres, In more
sparsely-settled territory. It shoulc
have a garden and an orchard. TIT
principal. or one of the teachers, ought
to be required to cultivate this farm
and make it a model demonstration
farm. There shouldbe a poultry yard
dairy, and, in. fact, everything to be
found on well-conducted farm. The
teacher also should keep in touch witt
the agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations in his state, the depart
ments Of agriculture OF the state AM
nation, as we'll as farm demonstration
agents and other agencies, and thinl
it ought to be made their duty to helr
him in every way possible.
I'm communities such as those es-
tabllshed under the auspices Of thu
Observation-Disclosures League 1t is
advisable that the school be thought
Of as being in operation all the year
round. OF course, this does not mean
the holding of sessions all the sum-
mer, but some OF the teachers, al
least, should be on hand at all times
1t also Is important that the school be
made the social center Of the commun-
ity. This can be done by the forma-
ton OF various kinds Of associations
dairylng and berrying organizations
for the parents, women's clubs and
domestice science classes.
Know Country Life.
"The principal Of a rural school
ought to know country life, a large
part OF which has to do with farming
The ability to do is the best test. The
head OF a school in farming COM
munity should be able to conduct Q
small farm better than, or at least as
we'll as, any other man in the conf
munity"
Referring to this matter. Mrs. LMnt
said:
1.-THE league heartily endorses the
opinions expressed by Miss Margare
WILSON, daughter OF the president IL
recent address on The School as
Community Center in which she said
Our school buildings ought to be cen
tiers of social enterprise and cooper
alton, places where, as In universities
that are really free, everything sinai
be considered from the point Of View
of its real value. its real value to the
community and to the world. All Kinds
of wonderful ideas will spring IRON
the free soil Of these centers.'
Mrs. I,,nd also suggested that social
workers, who are taking courses o.
training for community center worn
in the cities, prepare themselves FOL
positions in country schools. where
the need Of such organization is great
The Observation-Disclosures League
acts as a clearing house for compan
les that have land to sell, and, II the
soil and other conditions are foln'
to he right and the prices for the lant
are thought fair, It notifies person!
who have registered with the league
bureau as prospective colonists.
Rural Secretaries.
Albert E. Roberts, OF the Yollni
Mems Christian Association. New
York. has signifed an intention tt
send rural secretaries to the commun
tiles which are to be founded. and d.
/. 8. Cofer of the United States publ
health service. will have charge OF TIL
sanitary inspections
A bureau of information is main
tanned by the league at Labor Temple
New York City, where the value 0
lands in various parts Of the country
as well as the productive capacity O
agricultural regions, can be ascer