Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-09-20
Better Rural Schools

One OF the problems uppermost in
the minds Of every parent is the ed
ucation Of his children. In this the
farmer is no exception and it is prob
ably true that no other class of peo-
pie puts forth greater efforts or
makes greater sacrifices to the end
that its children may be adequately
educated than does the farmer. That
the results of these efforts as repre-
sented in the output of our rural
schools are satisfactory, however, is
seriously questioned both by intelli-
gent farmers and by the professional
educator. In fact, very few will
contend that the average rural school
as it exists at present in Idaho and
elsewhere, offers a satisfactory edu-
cation for the farmers children OF
one that it all comparable to that
which is to be had in the average Will
age and city school. The farmers
dissatisfaction with the rural school
is clearly shown by the common ten
dency to leave the farm and move to
town, temporarily or permanently,
that the children may enjoy the ad-
vantages of better schools
According TO the report OF the
State superintendent OF Public In
struction, little less than half of
the school children enrolled in the
public schools of Idaho are found In
rural schools, for the most part one
room schools. theoretically it looks
like a sound proposition that the
state should see to It that these coun-
try children have as good a chance
for an education as the other half
which happens to live in town. Prac-
tically is this possible? Probably
not Immediately and not In all places.
Without doubt. however, the farmer
will insisteutly demand it and intel
ligently work for it. rapid approach
can be made to such condition
city and town schools have been
vastly improved In the last three or
ANui NcNoNcss bul the luIdl eCuOOl
during the same time, In public es
timation and in the opinion OF ex-
perts has stood still or gone back
wards. 1t is not just and not safe
that this should be allowed to be true
OF he coming decade
II can not be doubted that we are
passing through one of the critical
periods of the worlds history. When
the world-war is over, society IS
bound to be reorganized and recast
along many lines and is almost Ger
tain to enter upon new era of rapid
progress and development II the ag-
ricultural interests of our state and
he nation are TO hold the place they
deserve In the new order of things
il will be necessary for the farmer
and the farmers wife OF tomorrow
10 be as adequately educated as the
people of any other group In the ma
, tion. II Is important. therefore
that those who are responsible for
the management of the rural school.
the farmers school, should be alive
TO the situation and on the outlook
for opportunities for improvements
In a large measure this means the
farmers themselves. II the farmers
+ Idaho want better schools and are
willing to work for them consistently
and unitedly they can have them.
With this view the writer will dis
cuss In a series OF articles a few of
the many phases OF the so-called Rur-
al School Problem. and Indicate brief
~ the lines along which progress is
being made.
c. b. Wilson,
Principal OF the School OF Practical
Agriculture and In Charge OF Agri-
cultural Education