Merits of the Rural School 141 



very likely be attained by utilizing the agen- 

 cies already in existence. It is easy, for 

 example, to ridicule the country school and 

 then to plead for new isolated schools in which 

 to teach agriculture ; but in so doing we may 

 forget that isolated special schools cannot 

 serve all the people and that they also tend to 

 isolate the subject. The present rural schools, 

 with all their shortcomings, are good schools 

 because (i) they are already in existence, (2) 

 they are the schools of all the people, (3) they 

 are small and thereby likely to be native and 

 simple, (4) they are many and therefore close 

 to the actual conditions of the people. I would 

 utilize them to the fullest ; and in the end 

 these schools, when redirected, will present 

 the solution of the problem of rural edu- 

 cation. In the remarks that follow, I mean 

 no criticism of teachers in the rural districts. 

 From long association with them, I have come 

 to regard them as a devoted class, and they 

 comprise some of the best teachers that I have 

 known. They deserve every recognition and 

 encouragement. 



