The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-11
MOB LIE CHILDREN
TO GROW fO0OSIU{FS
Superintendent Stcarnes Advocates
Continuation OF Schools Through
Summer for This Work.
IMPETUS TO GARDENING.
All Manner of Food producing Clubs
and Classes Proposed In Order To
Increase Nations Stock Of Pro-
visions During Crisis.

To aid in producing fnodstufs for the
people of the state and to help avert
any possibility of a food famine. due
to the drains that will be made on the
food supply as a result OF the war, it
is possible that the public schools of
the state will be continued through
out the summer in order that the chill
dren may operate garden clubs and food
conservation organizations. Superin
tendent r. c. Stearnss. of the depart
ment of public instruction. yesterday
mailed letters to division superinten-
dents throughout the state. advocating
THAT the school session be prolonged
through the summer i'm order that. this
industrial training may be carried out.
1t is the idea of Superintendent
Stearnes to have the classes meet daily,
IL IL can be arranged. and IL not. three
times a week, when courses in the work
to he pursued will be held and pro-
grams to be followed will he mapped
out. 1t Is suggested that garden clubs
be conducted: also clubs for raising
corn, peanuts and potatoes. In addi-
tion, there would be poultry, pig and
beef clubs. The suggestion was fur
Their made that the canning clubs,
which have been successfully held in
previous years, be continued on a
larger scale.
Finances for the continuance of the
public schools are available. due to the
fact that when the budget was made
for the present year. by reason OF
large amount of omitted taxes that
were collected. each city ana school
district received from the state funds
an extra appropriation per capita OF
school population Of 10 cents. This
could be used. and. in addition, il Is
believed that ba INKS and business men
would contribute to carry on such a
project.
The forces of childhood should be
mobilized Ia chiidhood's realm and in
ways entirely consistent with child
hoods obilized for service
Ito the country in time of need. de-
clared Mr.. Stearnes In his communities
ton TO the school officials. II am as
sured by those in charge of the farm
and home demonstration work of the
state that such an organization by all
and even g raTt OF The schools would
give them an opportunity 10 multiply
the effect Of their labors tremendously
Every teacher in the counties where
/
would be directed by these demonstra-
tors. and the success OF the plan would
be assured from the very moment any
school essayed the task
Let ns see what a body OF officers
and teachers who have added $4,000
eames To the enrolment In special cam
patgns during the past four years, and
who have reduced Juvenile nliteracy
more than half In another memorable
campaign. can accomplish in applying
the principles Of industrial training tc
a great national crisis.
tn war, Industrial preparation is
quite as important as military prepa-
ration, ard the duty of feeding the
soldiers on land and sea and the peo-
pie at home is even more important
than any duty to which the school
could he put Let the commisartat fall
and all is lost"