Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-08
MAKE CHILDREN
GROW FOODST'UFxs,
EDCUATOR SAYS
American School Children Can
Help Definitely and EffeC-
lively by Aiding in Land CuI-
tivatiOn, Dewey Says
By PROF. JOHN DEWEY.
(member of the Faculty of Columb ia I
University, and Foremost American Ed
ucational Expert.)


The war of nations is a war of or
ganized social and economic effort. Mill
tary force is only one factor in national
organization. The ultimate decision as
10 victory may well be with the farmer.
II has been said that success will be with
the country that can put the last 100000
men i'm the held-and il is no use to put
lOO. GOO men i'm the field If their stom-
achs are empty.
The central powers have held out
against an iron ring because they could
feed their home population and their
armed forces. Experts have watched
not so much the reports from the bat
tleield, as from the farm.
More important than another million
men for Germany is the coming grain
crop. More important for Us than an
army of ten millions is the loyal Ameri-
can farmer.
FOdd will win our battles. We must
look TO all 10 help in its production
and in its economical consumption.
The school children of America can
serve definitely. effectively and with ed
vocational results by helping in the plOw-
ing of Uncle Sans acre.
The world faces a serious food prob
lem The reports of the International
Agricultural institute show that for the
first time in many years their exists a
serious deficit in the total available
world supply of corn. wheat, rye, barley
and oats This deficit is estimated by
David Lubin to be about $4,000. 900
bushels less than the normal require
ments for countries open to trade.
The problem is more than a general
one. IL is one which we at home in
America must face.
The crop report just issued indicates
that the supply of wheat will be more
than $4,000. 900 bushels less than last
years supply.
In Kansas and Nebraska, the winter
kill and drought have made heavy in
roads into the total product of these
states.
Coupled with this is the general short
age i'm farm labor.
There are not enough men to man our
farms. If we enlist the school chill
dren in this work they can serve with re-
suits as beneficial to themselves as 10
the nation.
There will be better results from
training drills with the spade and the
hoe than from parading America s
youngsters up and down the school yard.
1t is of no value to give military drill
to boys of IA. rifle is nothing for
them TO monkey with.
Work of an agricultural nature per-
mits us to mobilize our children in the
great national and supernatural strug-
gle before us. 1t will give the children
healthful exercise. sense Of reality
which means so much to children. and a
sense of service in performance of work
really useful
Organized work will sustain the inter-
est of the school child. There will be
none of that drugery that come with
isolated work
DR.. p. P Claxton, commissioner Of
education. recently said:
'Tn. the schools of the cities. towns,
suburban communities. and manufactur-
ing and mining villages Of the United
States. there are approximately 5000
600 boys and girls between the ages of
nine and sixteen. Most of them are
idle more than half of the year.
with intelligent direction, these
schooi children and older boys and girls
and men and women might easily pro"
duce on the available land an average
of SIS i'm vegetables and fruits. This
would add $3.50, OOO.O to the best form
of food supply of the country without
cost of transportation or storage and
without prOiits of middlemen.'
The work should be planned and
conducted so as to reap its educational
value. The children should not only
get some knowledge of farming, but
every effort should be made TO cultivate
nature study. investigations of plant
life and growth; study OF insects
those which help the farmer and those
which hurt him. In addition. some
fundamental training in mechanics and
arithmetic should be arrangefor.
This is not a dream.
1t can be done.
BY the teachers of America.
There are about six weeks left in this
school year.
Now is the time to organize this
work.
School boards and educational agen-
cies should commence to make their
plans Delay is dangerous.
Enlist tie sympathies OF school
boards. Of influential citizens, OF the
farmers. OF all existing agencies ike
corn clubs and canning clubs; call on
county agents and agricultural colleges
and experiment stations for aid Put
as much leadership as possible IN the
hands of the ADLER boys and girls
But the first step must be taken oy
the educators.
Call IN the Colors