The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1919-08-14
SCHOOL CHILDREN NEEDED
TO AID HARVESTING CROPS

Austin. Texas, Aug. 9-Annie
Webb Blanton. State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. today issued an
appeal addressed to school trustees,
county and town superintendent,
federated clubs and parent-teacher
associations. asking that the opening
Of the public schools be deferred so
the children may be used to gather
the bumper crops during the acute
labor shortage.
Sam Sparks, ey-State Treasurer,
who is fostering the movement to
postpone opening the schools, said
that the teachers should receive their
regular compensation and they would
thus have no reason to complain or
object to postponenient
Miss Blanton's statement follows:
"The prosperity Of the schools and
Of the State is based on the success
Of the farmer For the last three
years large proportion Of Texas
farmers have bravely and patiently
met adversely resulting from unpre-
lcedented drouth conditions. Now
fortune has changed, and the pros
poets are for the largest crop Of many
years. But a danger nearly as ser
ious as that of the past now threatens
10 deprive the farmer Of the fruits Of
his own industry and OF the blessing
Of favorable seasons-the present
shortage Of labor. The call to aid the
farmers 70 save the bumper crop Of
1919 should appeal to the feeling Of
patriotism Of every loyal Texan In
this work the schools can bear an i'm
portant and effective part
II earnestly advise all county and
town superintendents. boards Of
trustees. 10 make an effort so 20 ar
range the compulsory school term as
not to draw from the harvest fields
those engaged in the labor Of saving
our great cotton crops While the
compulsory school term must be 100
consecutive days, its beginning can
be fixed at such time. varying IN
different localities Of the State, as
win permit the school children to re-
main in the field work while their aid
IS urgently needed. In the case Of
short term schools. the opening Of
school can begin later than usual In
the case of nine-month schools, il may
be possible to arrange short term
Of work for those able TO enter be-
lore the beginning Of the compulsory
term. Where by deferring the open
ing Of school a few weeks service
can be rendered to the farmers with
no resultant hardship to pupils or
teachers, this course should be fol
lowed II is possible TO begin nine
rnonth school the last week Of Sep
TENDER. allow one week for the
Christmas vacation, and still close
about the middle Of June
"In each town adjacent to farming
districts, where help is sorely needed
an excellent plan is TO organize
working boys reserve and working
girls reserve. Even after the oren-
ing Of school, these organizations can
accomplish much in work after school
hours and on Saturdays. These or
CARNATIONS saved vast quantities of
food during the war. A real emer-
gency situation is upon US Is not
Texas able to meet it, In the work
Of boys and girls organizations the
federated clubs and the parent
teacher associations have rendered in
valuable service in the past. We
have. now confronting us situation
calling for their assistance. Never
yet have they failed the State Of
Texas, and call upon them now to
respond to an appeal for their help,
which is almost as urgent as that to
which they answered so nobly during