190 KUEAL LIFE IN CANADA 



Even when so organized Sir Horace Plunkett finds that 

 the local co-operative society will sell through the cen- 

 tral co-operative agency when prices are low, but 

 through other channels when prices are high, 



Balking the end half won for an instant's dole. 



Here again is a situation which the church both directly 

 and through the school must meet. The school must 

 adopt supervised play as a socializing agency. Wherever 

 introduced, rational, normal play has promoted physical 

 vigor; it has aroused mental alertness more generally 

 than the prospect of advantage through the possession of 

 knowledge had done ; but its especial results have been 

 in the realm of character. It has solved the problem of 

 discipline, it has taught self-confidence and respect for 

 the rights of others. It is one of the means that lies at 

 the basis of the solution of the rural problem. That 

 problem has two imderlying economic causes: insuffi- 

 cient production by the farmer and exploitation of the 

 farmer. Industrial efficiency on the farmer's part, to 

 be secured through vocational education, must meet the 

 first ; social efficiency on his part, to be secured by such 

 means as this, must meet the second. Should anyone 

 object that such training lays an added burden upon 

 the teacher, an enhanced cost upon the school, the reply 

 lies in the comparative amounts of the cost and of the 

 loss now sustained by the nation through rural deple- 

 tion. The efficiency of supervised play is recognized 

 by all educationists. What is still requisite is a sense 

 of the urgency of the situation upon their part, and an 

 acceptance of their view of its efficiency by the public. 

 To inspire educationists and public with this sense of 

 urgency and efficiency is the task of the church. 



