508 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



knowledge necessary to fit them for actual life after their education is sup- 

 posed to be complete. There is nothing degrading in physical labor, else 

 the most of us would be groveling in the dust. We must teach the young 

 that bread must be earned if we do not wish to become a nation of tramps, 

 paupers and criminals. 



Some prominent teachers say that they judge a child's scholarship by his 

 ability to read, write, compose and spell a few sentences of the English lan- 

 guage correctly. Our farmers say the scholars should be able to tell the 

 amount of a load of wheat when sold; find the area of fields knowing the 

 dimensions ; give accurate descriptions of their own and neighboring farms ; 

 measure the wood and lumber ; calculate the number of bushels in bins of 

 wheat; in short, understand questions of practical utility. In this direc- 

 tion you can aid the teacher by giving practical lessons yourself to the chil- 

 dren. They must learn the relation of cause and effect, must have judgment 

 and forethought and general ability in order to become successful in life. 



Mr. Pattengill, of the School Moderator, at a recent meeting in Marshall, 

 made a statement to this effect: Hundreds of farmers' boys had come under 

 his instruction. He had often found them inferior readers, incorrect spell- 

 ers, not always able to express themselves grammatically, but he always 

 found that they could think and reason. This statement is a gratifying com- 

 pliment. If they have the power of thought these other things may be added 

 unto them. After reviewing the situation carefully a gentleman says : "Edu- 

 cate the masses, but make that a practical education, which will fit people 

 for the duties of life." 



What is knowledge without health? The mind cannot reach any degree 

 of successful development within a body composed of diseased nerves, com- 

 pressed lungs and bad blood. Everything in our school rooms and school 

 government, in our children's clothing and food, should be adjusted 

 with especial reference to a healthful development of the physical organiza- 

 tion. 



Members of the W. C. T. U. and other moral and religious people have 

 long realized the danger to the youth of our land from the use of tobacco 

 and alcoholics. Time will not allow the giving of statistics concerning the 

 yearly demand for cigarettes, liquors, etc., but the quantity is appalling. 

 A desire to forewarn children of their danger, and a belief that the cul- 

 tivated traits of this generation may become the inherited traits of another, 

 has led to the enactment of our Scientific Temperance Instruction Law, a 

 portion of which reads as follows: " Instruction shall be given in physi- 

 ology and hygiene, with a special reference to the nature of alcohol and 

 narcotics, and their effects upon the human system. * * * The dis- 

 trict board shall require each teacher in the public schools of such dis- 

 trict, before placing the school register in the hands of the director, to 

 certify therein, whether or not this has been done." Farmers have temp- 

 tations peculiar to themselves. Little boys often learn to use tobacco of 

 older pupils, and sometimes from teachers. Hard cider is placed in 

 cellars, where boys can early learn lessons in drinking. Mothers are some- 

 times melancholy witnesses of the daily degeneration of innocent, promising 

 boys into incipient drunkards within their own homes. Thus the duty of 

 teachers in country schools is apparent and imperative. It is a surprise to 

 teachers to find how readily pupils will learn and comprehend this study 

 when it is properly explained. The wonderful network of lines called nerves 



