No. 6 DEPARTAIENT OF AGRICULTURE. 271 



danger on yours as well as on the teacher's part. When books were 

 bought by iudividuals, I personally kjiew children, whose pan-nts 

 had but limited means, or perhaps little realized the value of the 

 book to be bought, who had to work a day or two away from home or 

 else had to do extra jobs at home in order that the purchase might be 

 made. Do you not know that those things which you earn with your 

 own toil are the dearest to you? Those are the things that you 

 prize most highly. I see clearly that under these conditions, that 

 children studied harder, naturally, than they do now, and you (par- 

 ents) encouraged it. At present when a book is worn out the pupil 

 knows that a new one is replaced and the township pays the 

 cost. It also seems to me that parents are becoming more negligent 

 about the matter. Parents can better the public school by helping to 

 remedy this. The book no longer is the true property of the pupils, 

 and something must take its place in order that the pupil will 

 work as hard as before. What can be done? Give more encourage- 

 ment as a stimulous to self-activity, which is the basis of knowledge. 

 Have a closer watch as to what they do with their books. Give them 

 to understand that the knowledge derived from studying is worth 

 more than the value of the book. 



The establishment of school libraries seems to me, characterizes 

 now a refined school. Do you not know that a true school goes beyond 

 the- walls of the building so far as its influence is concerned? Are 

 you now not applying that which you learned or have laid the foun- 

 dation to learn in the public school? It is not quite so bad in the 

 rural districts that children will loaf about the street or public sta- 

 tions; but still I think all will agree with me that if we can hold oup 

 children at something useful the effect is only too marked in years to 

 come. The saying has it, "Show me your company and I will tell you 

 who you are." Let me modify that statement just a little for this 

 evening and say, "Show me the books you read and I will tell you who 

 you are." You who are farmers and patrons of same school, see to it 

 that there is a library in that school and you have helped towards the 

 betterment of that school. A school library has a special advantage 

 to the farmer, for you also have the opportunity of reading the 

 books. Therefore, I repeat with emphasis, help to establish such a 

 library in your school, if one does not already exist. See to it that 

 books on agriculture are placed in your librarj' and read. 



You ask what are the advantages of such a school library, as I can 

 buy the books and keep them at home, then they are mine? But con- 

 sidering the other side, if you buy a book and your neighbor buys 

 one and placing these books together you can have the opportunity 

 of reading twenty books for the payment of one. Thus the advant- 

 age is plain. 



