I905-] DISCUSSION. 235 



They are trying- to do it under conditions that are sometimes 

 very difficult. Today they are doing the most important work 

 that is being done, and more rests upon the sense of respon- 

 sibility, conscientiousness, and ability of the country school 

 teachers of today than rests upon any other body of people in 

 our commonwealth. More of the future rests upon them. I 

 speak of this not because at the present time I have fifty of 

 them under my special care, but as one who, as a coworker 

 with them in this work, knows something of their feelings and 

 of their willingness to do their best in the great work laid out 

 for them to do. I think they will try it. They are a brave set. 

 They are not afraid of labor. They will try to do most any- 

 thing that you ask them to do, but don't ask too much. If 

 you want these things done, if you really think that they are 

 necessary and should be engrafted into the work of common 

 school instruction, then put it in some way where it can be 

 done well. With all respect to our great and wise legislators, 

 they do sometimes ride a good many hobbies. For instance, 

 our wise legislators say that the eyes of every child in all our 

 schools must be tested, and instead of letting the towns pay 

 for having this work done by somebody that is qualified to do 

 it, every little school teacher has got to try to understand the 

 structure of the eye sufficiently to do this. It is not reasonable 

 to expect our teachers to do such a work as that and do it 

 properly. It will not amount to anything. Of course it can- 

 not amount to anything. Now, if you want to do this do it 

 intelligently. You know very well that you cannot expect 

 every teacher, aside from all the other things which he or she 

 is expected to know — you cannot reasonably expect that they 

 shall master the science of breaking steers, raising calves, 

 studying out trees, and all the intricate and interesting secrets 

 connected with entomology, fungus, and fungicides, and all 

 those things. If you must have this done send somebody into 

 the towns that is qualified to do it. Let them give lectures 

 weekly or monthly, that shall be born of knowledge and ex- 



