Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-04-18
DR., THOMAS SPEAKS ON VOCATIONAL
TRAINING AT MEETING OF CHILD
Welfare LEAGUE, WATERv|LLE

each dollar granted Dy the 1edeIal
government the state, the local COM
munity, or both will put up an equal
amount.
Uncle Sans Chief Butler
The Smith-Hughes Act places much
stress upon the teaching of agricul-
ture: it makes provision for the
training of teachers and for instruc-
ton of persons who expect to fol-
low agriculture as an occupation. AL
ready a number of schools are APP
proved and will draw federal support.
The subject may be taught in all
day. part time or evening classes. In
cur state the all-day school seems
the most practical. In such schools
pupils must be over fourteen years
OF age or older. One-half of the
school time must be devoted to the
study of agriculture or to related
subjects; six months SUPERVISED Ggri-
culture On a productive bais is re-
CURED
1t is reasonable to insist on some
form of definite agricultural inStruc-
ton if the farm is preserved. The
people have been gravitatinS to-
wards the centers of population and
still are. We may cry back to the
land until we are hoarse. and it will
accomplish nothing unless we make
the farm safe for the farmer. In or
der to do this We must relieve 1t as
far as possible Of it's proverbial druid
gerry. No one has ever thought of ar
eight hour day for the husbandman;
he swings the lantern at both ends OF
the day; practically all of the work
is farm labor; it is performed by the
old Arm Strong" machinery: farm
laborers are getting scarce and pro-
hibitive in price. Crops are uncertain
and prices fluctuate. More highly
specialized machinery must be pro
iuced to relieve the drudgery and the
labor shortage.
The country life is also quiet life
more apt a lonely life. The lack OF
social facilities, wholesome amuse'
ments, and comveniences, tend to re
lieve the country places of desirable
ity but the one big cause which
makes the farm problem difficult is
the lack of adequate school facilities
The country people need as muct
education as others do; they wan'
their children TO be as we'll educated
refined ard cultivated as their city
cousins are.
Under present conditions this is
impossible notwithstanding much
benificent legislation. We must have
as good schools in the country place:
! as we have in our cities. When The
4, war is over and the world is re
established. rehabilitated and read
justed Americas opportunity mus
come. Millions of people will be re.
ton factories. office and camp, anG
we must provide avenues for THEN
employment. The production of fooC
and the manufacture of clothing are
mans most fundamental occupations
and fortunate is that nation whose
chief or basic industries covers these
fields. America is a great food pro.
ducing nation and she must ply hel
trade to the fun: in order to reach
her possible power, industrially, com.
mercially and politically. she must
encourage the cultivation or her fields
and gardens. She must also provide
her own means to market; her fleets
must ply every sea and find every
port.
so far as the agricultural feature
is concerned the two great needed
movements are good schools and
good roads. AS speedily as possible
our $4,000 miles of highway should
be made possible at all seasons O.
the year. This will bring the mar
kets closer to the fields of produc-
ton in Maine; it will add to the
desirability as country residence: i,
VIII enhance the price of land now
remote and will tend to increase pro.
auction as it makes market accessi.
pie. The school should be the cen.
ter OF social life and should adiusr
itseif to seasons and should provide
speclnc forms Of education. Visual
lzed instruction through educationa
films regularly offered will add an in
teresting and useful feature to socia
life. Just as long as conditions ex.
ISL as they are we may not eXpec
the farmer to lead his forlon hon,
not to mention the young man of tn,
city that he may establish his HON,
III the country and rear his famil,
IN the open sunshine. Country lif,
must be made attractive or at leas
"afe. and reasonable remunerativ,
before we can expect our country t.
yield its fullest harvest. The ma
tons attention may well be directe,
to the farm.
The State Of Maine and the War
Maine can raise wheat possibly no
so profitable ordinarily as potatoe
out the price Of wheat and its abso
lute necessity would indicate tina
our acreage should be increased Tn,
consumption Of wheat in Maine I,
~ bushels per capita; in the Unite,
states II Is 5.S. We require approx
mateiy 3,Sl1.000,00O Of bushels. thi
was our requirement in 1917. W.
raised $4,000 bushels ACCORDING =,
reliable estimates. making it neces
sary II we use the normal supply +.
import 3.157, 900 bushels. The nro
auction OF wheat in the United state
IN 1917 was 66o.OO0.0O0 of bushels
FOR our own requirements we Shout,
have Se2.000,000 Of bushels. for see,
requirements 100000 but even witt
this apparent shortage We must SUD
ply in part at least our allies will
wheat, Every bushel Maine can pro
duce in 1913 will save man powe
and fuel in transportation and will
add to the weight of our arms q,
| the field of batt1e With