528 BO.MJD OF AGRICULTURE. 



It is hinted here and there that politics and relationship sometimes 

 gives inexperienced teachers a position. If such is the case, is it not a 

 sad state of affairs that the wisdom of our school boards and trustees 

 should be overcome by such petty things, and give to the country schools 

 inexperienced teachers; schools where the masses of our people are edu- 

 cated; therefore these are the schools where we should have the very 

 best thinkers and instructors. 



Sometimes the unwise multiplication of districts has kept the amount 

 of money available for each district at so low a level that it makes it diffi- 

 cult to obtain the most efficient teachers. The low wages paid in some 

 of these schools prevent employment of the professionally trained teach- 

 ers. Even the brightest and ablest of those poorly trained teachers will 

 be seeking a better education and better positions. This, therefore, makes 

 too much truth in a statement made by a school officer after he had 

 made an investigation of the schools in his State. He said: "Country 

 teachers are in most cases young, immature, half-trained, ineffective and 

 lacking in professional ideas and ambitions. They are of two general 

 classes— the callow apprentice class and the old stagers who have been too 

 inefficient to get employment elsewhere." 



We know the occupation of a farmer boy necessitates a varied exer- 

 cise of both mind and body, which is far superior to that of the city 

 j^outh, whose range is limited to school, street and store or factory. The 

 country environment gives a far more extensive chance for interesting 

 study, therefore the greater the shame that the rural schools should have 

 teachers that are not fully equipped for the noble work. 



Some one has said: "If the farmer wishes to keep these boys and 

 girls in the country he must, as far as possible, equalize the advantages 

 of country and town so as to maintain an intelligent, prosperous, progres- 

 sive and contented yoemanry; he must give immediate and effective at- 

 tention to the needs of the rural schools." Could you not have better 

 schools if you are very earnest in your efforts to improve them? 



A teacher is the life of her school, therefore any effort to improve our 

 schools resolves itself into this question: How to secure able, intelligent, 

 progressive, devoted teachers. Every school district ought to invest teach- 

 ing with such dignity and honor as will attract the best men and women 

 to serve them. In order to secure this there must first be a cordial recog- 

 nition of the wisdom and the justice of providing education at public ex- 

 pense, so that the public school teacher may hold a respected and hon- 

 ored place in the communitJ^ There should be local control in the selec- 

 tion of the teachers, and in the immediate administration of the schools. 



Our countiy schools! 



Long may they live to tell their country's story, 

 Here lies her wealth, her strength, her might, 

 I ; Her rests her future glory. 



