THE TRAINING OF FARMERS 



together. The school center is better than 

 the village center. It is doubtful if the 

 latter is possible. In the nature of the case, 

 most farmers must live on their farms. 

 Those whose circumstances would permit 

 could build their homes in the school center 

 vicinity, but the school, either the consoli- 

 dated or the large district school, must be 

 the center. The township school should be 

 conducted under the ideal conditions men- 

 tioned above. The teachers should be well- 

 prepared men and women, thoroughly in 

 touch with the problems and interests of 

 the township, and permanent residents of 

 the community. They should understand 

 the relation of education and agriculture, 

 and should be able to create in the boys 

 and girls a love for the land. The school 

 should be the center of social life where 

 the farmers' families could assemble fre- 

 quently to hear lectures, to enjoy concerts 

 and high-class entertainments, and to dis- 

 cuss problems of vital community interest. 

 The teachers should be capable of direct- 

 ing all of this life and of taking part in it. 

 The school center should be the meeting- 

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