The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-06
SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE
HELPING TO FIGHT WAR
In All Sections of State They Take
Up Hoe and Shovel 10 Aid In
Feeding Army and People.
THEIR ENTHUSIASM CONTAGIOUS
Fathers Turn Tobacco Fields into
Corn Fields, and Mothers Plan Ex-
tcnsive Canning-Childrcn Enter
Into the Spirit OF the War Crisis.

From all sections of the state comes
the information to Superintendent H.
&. Stearnes, of the department or
public instruction, that school chill
dren are rallying TO the present
emergency, and enthusiasm in gar
dens and canning is growing with
great rapidly. large number OF
the schools have arranged vegetable
gardens. instead of flower gardens,
and every day the children are eager
to get out into miniature farms with
hoe and shovel
In addition to the school gardens,
the children are also starting gar
dens of their own at their homes.
With a patriotic display that Is prov
! ing Of much value, the children arc
going about their plans to help fur
niSh food to the people during the
war. and they are enthusiastic over
tho opportunity of being OF some
! help however small. to the country
/ in this extreme crisis
The value of the enthusiasm of the
! children Is showing itself in the
/ changed programs adopted by their
! farmer parents. In a number of i
stances large fields which have form
! ery been used for the production or
tobacco, have been planted in corn
/ and other staple vegetables. which
will he needed so generally. The
mothers of the children have also
come forward with plans to help and
/ when the crops are gathered they Will
spend the larger part of their time In
/ canning.
! Cities All Awake to Need.
All the cities of the state are also
( following the rural sections in their
garden activities, and the working OF
the gardens is proving to he an i'm
portant part of the school curriculum.
In addition to this In the last few
weeks some OF the schools have in
/ aucurated thrift measures, and week
~ deposits OF money saved by the
children are made. This is provin"
/ an impetus to the young girls and
sacrifices. which they realize put
them in with the spirit OF the war
/ crisis
Secretary Hllman, Of the depart
ment Of public instruction, In speak
ing of the part the school children
I are playing in preparation for long
and strenuous war. made the follow
Il ing statement:
Turn Tobacco Lands Into Cornfields.
4 prom Henry county there comes
the very interesting bit of informa-
ton that a number of very fine to-
4 hacco farms are being turned into
Il cornf1elds rather than planted in to-
hacco, that fields that have been idle
for years are being utilized this year
for increased production, ana that the
/ school children and mothers OF a
! number of communities have pledsed
! themselves to do a great deal of can
/ ming. PARTICULAR" of the various kinds
| Of vegetables as we'll as wild fruits
and berries, II being reported that
the children have pledged themselves
TO jam the berry crops, This is not
{ only true for the particular places
mentioned. but from all over the state
there come encouraging reports OF
! enthusiasm, earnestness OF purpose
and determination on the part OF thou
{ sands upon thousands of school chit
/ dren and parents to do their part ana
! add their bit to that service. VIZ the
, production OF more foodstuHs, Whlch
is az patriotic and as necessary Tor
: 1.-THE successful prosecution OF the prom
/ lens that confront us as To don uhi-
form or shoulder a musket.
"A number of communities have or
. ranized their councils of defense, as
Well as their councils OF safety, and