Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-12
SCHOOL CHILDREN CALLED
UPON TO SERVE NATION
state superintendent Stcarncs Issues
Call for Agricultural
Instruction.
MUST MEET FOOD SITUATION
Hope Lies I'm Corn ant Garden Clubs,
Canning Classes and Wisely Di-
rected Efforts to Increase and Con.
serve Supply.

serve Supply.
| Mobilization OF the public school
forces Of Virginia in an effective way
of meeting the food situation il pro.
posed by State superintendent of Pub.
! lie Instruction X. G. Stcarnes In "a
! statement issued yesterday. addressed
to division superintendent. Review
Ing the probable shortage of food sun
plies. the GO per cent wheat crop, and
the demands made all the people
for service in time of war. Mr.. Stcarncs
suggests that the schools be not closed
early in the spring, as is the custom
In many sections. but that classes in
gardening and agriculture he continued
throughout the summer and that the
various corn clubs, canning clubs. gar
den. potato and poultry clubs be re.
cruited to tho fullest extent at once.
Mr.. Stcarnes's statement addressed
! to division school supcrJntcndents fol-
lows In full:
"Slis country must prepare for a
great conflict, and the schools must
do their part. In its final analysis the
! struggle appears to he between dcmoc-
racy and freedom. OH the one side and
| autocracy and ovcrlordship on the
other. Womanhood will do Its part
| In hospital. factory and home to aid
the men in the trenches. and childhood
! also may render tho greatest assist
ance II all Of our willing workers are
| properly organized
II COMMISsANIAT
! FAILS. ALI. IS LOST
| The public school is at once the
foundation and the hope Of democracy.
| hut the public school cannot fulf1ll it's
| mission with Il restricted purpose or a
liiDited vision. Democracy demands
! that the public school cducarc all OF
the children for all OF the relations OF
HE. and that II shall adequately train
each child for the real life that he is
| TO live. On this account the modern
school has felt Obliged to give a new
! form OF emphasis to certain practical
and industrial subjects. and the results
| nave prepared us 80 we'll to mobilize
our forces for the service OF the nation
J in the impending crisis that II would
seem as ir-some educational leader had
premonition of the world conflict that
has come upon US.
I'm war Industrial preparation ~
| quite as important as military prepare
! ton. and the duty OF feeding the SOL
dicrs on land and sea and the people
at home is paramount. Let the com
missariat fail and all Is lost.
wherefore we should recruit our
garden clubs. our corn clubs. our can
ming clubs. our peanut clubs. our po-
tato clubs. our pig clubs. our poultry
clubs. and our BABY beef" clubs until!
every boy ana girl in Virginia is pro-
ducinS something.
HOPES SCHOOLS WILL.
KEEP OPEN ALI. SUMMER
AS Superintendent OF public lnstruc-
! ton have this pointed. and trust
practical suggestion 10 make. hope
the schools will not close this aprnH
as they usually do. but will continue
| in session throughout tho summer.
aha ping their work along the indus
trisl lines which have indicated This
IL the only way TO secure good results.
The childrcn'S work must be directed
or IL viii soon cease to be effective.
II can be directed effectively only at
the school-housc, and work Tor a fcw
hours cath day carefully planned BY
II leader Will bear more fruit than the
all day labor of children working with
. out the guiding hand Of some sympa-
thctic leader
Little can be accomplished without
organization. and If the schools Will
/ assemble each forenoon, or three times
a week. to pursue courses which are
cultural, patriotic and practical in their
nature and to lay out the program o.
the afternoon or remaining three days
| In garden. canncry. field or factory.
great gains in money. health and hap
pness arc in store for the children.
and millions-ycs. millionS--of dollars
worth OF food products are in sight.
HAVE: MORE FUNDS THAN
WHEN BUDGETS WEHE MADE Ut
Can such scheme be financed?
think so. Each city and school dis
trict of the State has received from
State funds during tho session 10 pcr
cent pcr capita OF school population
more than was expected when the
budget for tho year was made. aud
tho Councils and Boards OF Supervisors
arc now permitted To make special
appropriations TO tho schools. Besides.
our banks ana business men will con-
tribute literally to projects OF this
nature.
THE keynote of this circular is the
suggestion that the forces of childhood
be modified in ch!ldhood's realm and
In ways entirely consistent with child
hoods wclfarc--mobilizcd for service
to the country in time OF need. And
am assured by those in charge OF
he farm and homo demonstration
work in the state that such an or
ganization by all, or even part OF tho
schools, would give them an oi,pnrt,In-
ity to multiply the effect of their labors
tremendously. Every teacher in the
counties where demonstrators arc en-
ploycd would he directed by these
demonstrators, and tho success of tho
plan would be assured from tho very
moment any school cssaycd the task.
Let us sec what Il body Of officers
and teachers who have added $4,000
names to tho enrolment in spccial
campaigns during the past four years.
and who have reduced juvenile Hitter
acy more than half in another memoir
able campaign can accomplish by APP
plying the principles OF Industrial
training to great national crisis
Some of the cities have already or
ganized for campaign Of school gar.
dening. ] hope other cities will he
| added to the list and that the country
schools may come right to tho front
In n laudable and patriotic movement
which will. no doubt. soon become ma
ton wide i'm It's scope"
---
London Town.
ITO Professor Berkeley MinorJ