Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1917-12-29
THAT BOY ON THE FARM
AND NOT IN SCHOOL
[Coutinued from last week.


ing, barn work, care of stock, hauling
glowing building and repairing, no enc
! of work. But surely he has his even
ings, and some time for reading and g
little study. Oh those long winter even
ings What an opportunity for the boy
on the farm. Away from the allure.
meDts and depression ofthe average town
which SO many times spoil a boy for
reading, for study, for investigation, for
mental and moral development.
To the ambitious youth way will be
provided. Find way or make it will
be his motto. He will improve his long
winter evenings. He will snatch few
minutes just before or just after each
meal to cover few pages of text book
or wholesome reading. On stormy days,
which come frequently during winter
months, when driven indoors he will
be able to spend few hours with his
books. He will do this provided he has
the books.
Did you get that? Did hit the bulls
eye within the target that time? have
been leading up to this. Let me repeat
it. He will do this, provided he has the
books and, of course the inclination
along with the books. Now here is the
problem l confronted An exception
ally bright country boy, clean is his life,
good home, honest, unselfsh parents,
but no specified books for reading or
study. No home study for 'self help
and "self-education" suggested or laid
out for him.
And then | made my simple sugges-
ton 10 this farmer boy. "Why not get
hold of some good text book such as is
used in the freshman year of High
School or academic course at college
What is to prevent you from having in
your possession the same book that your
fortunate brother takes to the class room
away at school? Why can't you read a
few pages each day, or during spare time
cover a chapter or more? Talk over
your reading with your father. He will
be oft times as good as a professor. He
has had practical experience but may
lack the technical and scientific putting
of things. Your questions will sharpen
his mind. He will 90 to school with
you-the school in your home"
The eyes of my young farmer lad
frightened. He listened eagerly while
| went on. I'm few weeks, in the
course of a month or two, the book will
be finished or nearly SO. Then you can
secure another text book You have
the best Cla,s room on earth, the farm,
with barns aud fields, woods and or
chards, to put your daily readings and
studies into practice. Father and older
brother, and perhaps your big sister, can
study with you. Mother, too, will be
interested and may take an important
part in the plan"
If you can secure a book on Agricul-
ture and Farm Betterment, do so at
once. In addition outline a course in
reading. One, two, possibly three books,
either history, literature, civil govern
ment or travel. A volume of biography,
the life of some great and good man,
will stimulate your ambitions and enrich
your mind.
l had my audience. The boy was
captured and his father too. | had not
noticed him, he was listening from an
adjoining room. He entered and ques-
toned eagerly, for his heart was in his
utterances, "tell me, tell me-" be repeat
ed with emphasis, lust what books to
get for him and | will buy the books
That's the trouble" he said, 81 do not
know just what books to get for him"
| agreed to send him book or two as
starter, and since then, have been
thinking the matter over: This idea
came to me not altogether new perhaps,
but good idea neglected. Why not
organize or promote a Farmer Boys
Home Study and Reading Club ?" A
simple course of study could be outlined
and few good text books, not to tech
nical, could be chosen. The books could
be sold at cost to any boy or girl wishing
to Join the Home Reading and Study
Club. The time to push the work of the
Club would be during the fall and win
ter months, eliminating the work in the
I hayn InnIk Il
extension department OF the State Agri-
cultural College will be willing to offer
valuable bulletins and the assistance
they can give. The local superntend-
ent of town or village High School with
his corps of teachers will, | am sure,
gladly assist where it is possible to do
50.
The boy on the farm is of course in
terested in Agriculture" The writer of
this article has in mind two text books
on Agriculture that are excellent vol
umes and books that every farmer boy
should have in his library. The one is
Elementary Agriculture" by Prof Jas.
S. Grim, of Keystone Normal School at
Kutztown, Pa. The other, THE ESSEN
tals of Agriculture" by President Henry
Jackson Waters of the Kansas State
Agricultural College.
This newspaper, | am sure, will be
glad to encourage such a movement.
Perhaps offer its news columns and cre-
ate department so that every week or
month the members of the Home Read
ing and Study Club could follow sugges.
| tions made by some able leader nbe
! s,,ar;ntanJapt of ,oo.L -,