The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-12-06
The Recent Country Life Conference
Devoted to the RBral Home

Interest In farm homes should GER
tainly receive a new impetus as a
result of the splendid program of the
Country Life Conference which met
in ST. Louis, November Sths to 18th.
Speakers of national reputation in
various fields of rural endeavor, farm
ers and farm home makers, rural
church and school officers, and the
like, took part. Speakers and dele
gates came from thirty-five different
states. Therefore the audience was
representative of all sections of the
country, as the topics discussed were
representative of all phases of farm
home life and influences which affect
1t.
The Federal Government manifested
its interest in the work Of the Asso-
citation through representation on the
program of two of its largest depart
ments-the Interior Department, Blu
reau of Education, essentially con-
cerned with the intellectual and spiri-
tual welfare of the new generation,
and the Department of Agriculture,
primarily concerned with economic
aspects of farm living.
What the rural home should mean
to the farm family; how 1t can be
made beautiful, convenient, spiritual
ly inspiring; how it can and should
be kept physically healthful and
morally wholesome; place of rest,
inspiration, affection, and respect,
were all stressed by speakers and
delegates. Special emphasis was
placed on the mutual responsible
ties of home and school and their
close relationship to each other. The
fashioned home with its cherish
ed traditions and sentiments; the
home as a place in which the fine
virtues of honesty, integrity, and
thrift may be cultivated Is not extinct
in our rural communities. Indeed,
the farm home has great opportuni-
ty of preserving the best OF the old
home life and combining with it new
ideals which make modern home life
attractive as well as substantial and
wholesome.
From our earliest history great
statesmen, soldiers, professional men,
and artists have come from farm
homes. Americas most eminent cit
liens have ascribed their success to
the training received about the fire.
side of the farm home. May not our
present farm homes, then, be the
means of preserving the sterling
qualities of home life so long rever-
ed during the time that city homes
are adjusting themselves to the new
conditions which the exigencies OF
modern civilized living are bringing
about? Consideration of the proceed
ings of the recent conference of the
American Country Life Association
encourages the belief that the meeting
may contribute to this desired end.
APPALLING WASTE
Short school terms and poor at
tendance in the rural schools rep
resent an appalling waste. Statis-
tics compiled by the Bureau of Ed
ucation show that the average rural
school term is approximately seven
months and that the average daily
attendance is but 1872 per cent of the
enrolment. Even this poor showing
is bolstered up by including as rural
all places of less than $500 popula-
ton according to the census CLASH
fication. II we count as rural only
the population of the open country
and the smaller villages the situation
appears much worse. Because OF
the poor enforcement of the school
laws in the open country many child
rem of school age are not enrolled in
the schools and because of unfayor-
able rural conditions the attendance
Is reduced. In these regions the
average school term is about six
months and the average daily attend
ance is hardly 81 per cent.
Short school terms and poor at
tendance waste the farmers money,
reduce the future earning capacity OF
children and permit coming citizens
to be handicapped by illiteracy. The
whole nation was made ashamed by
the high percentage OF illiteracy re-
vealed by the examination of recruits
for our army in the World War. So
long as we permit short school terms
and irregular school attendance in the
rural districts, just so long will we
continue to produce thousands of men
and women unfit to perform their du-
ties as citizens in a Republic
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY
Christmas in the farm homes and
in the rural schools! What mem
cries it brings to thousands of men
and women in crowded cities as well
as in the open country. The spirit
of making others happy is abroad in
the land. At this happy time when
our main objective is to add to the
joy of the Christmas season for our
boys and girls may we not also take
stock of the kind of permanent service
we are giving our children in pro-
vidng for their future welfare and
happiness, especially for their educa-
ton? Houses and lands, money and
jewels, may be of temporary endur-
ance. Good health, trained mind,
and sound, moral inheritance are
treasures stored where moth can not
enter nor rust destroy. The best
Christmas gift any community can
give it's children is an efficient school,
one which assures in so far as 1t is
humanity possible the spiritual and in
tellectual training that prepares them
for the good life"
School trustees and parents, why
,rx4 NIL, 10 of