The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-28
Mrs. Roosevelt Host
 To Rural Educators
Opening Session Next Wednesday at White House;
 John w. Studebaker One of Speakers

azlnes and rural newspapers, edu- cators, representatives of university extension services and government officials.
 "The purpose of the Conference" says Howard A. Dawson, director of rural service of the National Eduea- ton Association and co-chairn1an of the meeting, "is to help rural communities of the United States in enlarging their contributions to the sounder economic and social structure which the American people expect to build in the i'm. mediate postwar years, Historically our nation has It's roots deep in the soil A century ago three-f -fourths of the people lived on farms, Half of the American children still live In areas called rural by the Bureau of the Census. Upon the prepara- ton of these young people for in- dividual economic competency, for effective participation In the in- creasingly complex duties of Amer lean citizenship depends in large part the place of American leader ship in the world e quarter of century hence. We mobilized our resources for war in months. Our mobilization for peace will take years. Preparing our young people adequately to assume the duties of citizenship in an age of incredibly complex technology and involved world relationships will be a slow and sometimes painful task, We cannot accomplish 1t by wishing It is hoped that the deliberation of this Conference will lay the foundation for prompt and positive action"
 Topics for consideration at the Conference include the social-econ- omic backgrounds of rural educa- ton the relation of rural community welfare to the school the problems of professional personnel and rural education the organization and ad- ministration of rural education, the opportunities for minority and ex. ceptional groups in rural areas, paying for rural education, and the place of rural education in the structure of American democracy Speakers include Murray D. Lincoln, president Cooperative League of the United States; Katharine Lenroot, chief, Chlldren's Bureau of U, s. Department of Labor; John W, Stakeholder, U. s. Commissioner of Education; Cyril W. Grace, presi- dent, State Teachers College, May vile, North Dakota; Howard A, Dawson, director of rural service Of the National Education Association; and Fannie Dunn, professor -eraer- itus of Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City.
 The Conference is called under the auspices of three divisions of the headquarters staff of the National Education Association and directed by them-Rural Service, Legislative and Federal Relations, and Field Service. Charl Ormond Williams, field secretary of the National Edu- cation Association, Is executive chairman of the Conference and aS one of the speakers will discuss it's background and purpose. Howard A. Dawson director of rural service of the NEA R. B. Marsten director of legislative and federal relations and his assistant, Glenn Archer are co-chairinen of the Conference.
 Honorary chairmen of the Confer ence include Thomas Parran Sur. geon General of the United Statei Washington, D. O.; Owen D. Young honorary chairman of board, Gen. eral Electric, New York City; Johr strohm, managing editor, Prairie Farmer, Chicago. Ill.: Henry 0. Tay- Tor, managing director, Farm Foundation, Chicago, H.; M. L Wilson, director, Agriculture Exten- sion Service, U. 8. Department 0i Agriculture, Washington, D. O.; D E. Lindstrom extension Oocialoglst College of Agriculture, Urbana, Ill. James e. Patton, president, Ma tionaI Farmers Union, Washington D. O.; Homer L. Brinkley, president