The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-28
A GOOD MEETING

Educators and others interested in the solution of problems
affecting the rural life OF the country have concluded an inter
esting and profitable session at the West Tennessee Normal
school.
II the teachers and ministers and the people themselves will
apply some OF the suggestions that have been advanced for the
benefit of the country people there should be a marked improve
ment in conditions before another session assemblies next year.
The attitude OF the people taking part in the conference was
not that OF gratuitous advice for their b%enghted brethren. Nearly
all of the speakers were products of the country.
a great many OF them would have preferred to live in the
country and would have resisted the lure of the city except for
the monotony OF rural lie as it was when they left IS, 20 or 80
years ago, and the lack of advantages offered.
Education, OF course, is the first consideration. The COM
plant Is made that even the rural schools educate the pupils
away from the country instead OF educating them in the avoca.
ton OF their fathers.
1t is amazing to think that one Of every five persons In the
United States is iliterate, Iliteracy abounds in the remote rural
sections,
In some sections the iliterate farmer is as successful as the
educated farmer, A job that can be done as well by an unedu-
Gated man as by an educated man Is not one for the educated
man, But the farm does offer opportunity Tor the educated man,
If he Is not more successful than his uneducated n%eghhor, it is
not that farming must be regarded as the avocation OF those who
have failed in other undertakings, but the fault OF the system OF
education,
~ There should be kindergartens in connection with the coun-
try Schools. The years the average country boy spends in school
are too short, He gets a late start and necessity frequently
requires him to quit early, by the time he reaches 10 or IA years,
or is able to do a mans work in the field,
The war produced some astounding iacts-truths that cannot
be denied even N they are shameful,
1t showed us that In the United States there are not less than
100000 persons who can neither read nor write,
1t showed us that only one OF every three men drafted into
the army was lit for actual fighting. M
The hold Of the old pettyogging doctor should be broken
from the country people, egrsE@
The automobile eventually will solve the problem Of bad
roads, In no other direction has there been such a noticeable
improvement in the past few years as the sentiment Tor good
roads the year round.
The rural mail delivery has made the daily paper available
to the resident OF the rernotest section, N.Y. Yng-S yD'
ThegUnited States public health service is carrying its cam
paign to the country. The war has shown that the health prob
lem cannot longer be neglected without grave results,
Unless Germany can return to her prc-war conditions it will
be necessary for at least 100000 of her people to emigratc &c
other countries. Unless England can adapt herself to pre-war
conditions no less than 100000 Of her people must seek homes
elsewhere. ".
For the most part those who leave other countries and seek
America. toward which the ewes OF the world have turned, will
enter the trades, They are more skilled and more experienced
in shop and factory work than the American farmer, and there
fore the farmer should stay with his farm. N
Besides, the farmer must feed and clothe the world. The
prices OF his products will be profitable for many wears to come
His greatest opportunity lies before him upon his broad acres Oh
his little hillside farm,
MANY OF the cities have already become melting pots for tht
races, The purest Anglo-Saxon blood, the highest ideals anc
unadulterated patriotism are found in the country.
There are no Bolshevsts and no anarchists in the country
The nation is safe so hng as the great mass OF the people arr
country people, They are the foundation Of the republic, If THU
situation is to continue they must be made content.