230 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



legislation for the men, it may be the better part of valor for women to keep 

 silence with regard to it ; but they will wonder sometimes why a Paris farmer 

 should pay nearly as much in school tax as a Wyoming farmer pays in school, 

 town, county, and State tax combined, when the farms of each contain the 

 same number of acres, and the persoual property is about equal. Johnson 

 says, " We cease to wonder at what we understand." So will some one explain 

 why the relationship is varied in a fractional district according to the township 

 in which the farmer may happen to live. 



If you deem my remarks rambling or washy I will say, by way of excuse, I 

 have not had time to gather them together and boil them down, and if I have 

 failed in my efforts in presenting this subject to you to your satisfaction, please 

 remember that life is made up of disappointments, and count this as one of 

 them. 



DISCUSSION". 



Mrs. A. V. Weatherwax led the discussion which followed. In speaking of 

 the expenses of maintaining the district school she said : When we think that 

 our schools form the intelligence of the common classes, the school taxes are 

 nothing. Three dollars and twenty-five cents per capita is not extravagant. 

 The relation of the district school to the pupil is like father to son. America 

 owes the patriotism of her citizens to the schools. Never take the word of a 

 teacher regarding a pupil, but go and see for yourself. People should visit 

 their schools of tener. Farmers should, at least, take as much interest in the 

 schools as they do in the stock yards. If the teacher has a hobby, make a 

 change and get a teacher as near perfection as possible. 



Cleanliness is too often neglected in district schools. A dirty school-house 

 has a bad effect on the scholars; it promotes slovenly habits and carelessness 

 in dress. 



Another defect is the parents' ambition to have their children study higher 

 branches when the teacher is incompetent to teach them, or to urge pupils 

 into studies that are far beyond their reach. I have seen children from eight 

 to eleven years old, who could not even read, studying grammar and geography. 



As for temperance. There is not a school in Michigan but what ought to 

 have temperance principles taught as much as the English branches. To get 

 rid of an evil commence at the root. 



Dr. Kedzie said the difficulty in the common schools is that we teach too 

 many branches, and not enough of each. We don't go to the bottom. Make 

 the studies fewer and learn them thoroughly. 



THE FAPvMER IN SOCIETY. 



BY MRS. A. M. WOODEUFF. 

 [Read at Beirien Institute.] 



There has been, and is now to a certain extent, an idea prevalent with 

 farmers that in order to be independent, they must pay no attention whatever 

 to the forms of social etiquette, to give no thought to the clothes they wear, or 

 the manner in which they wear them. There is a small foundation for these 

 opinions. When we consider the silly, frivolous, foppish airs practiced by 

 some persons living in cities and villages, we do not wonder the sound, sensible 



