Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1901 — FARM LIFE THE BEST [ARTICLE]

FARM LIFE THE BEST

ILLINOIS BOYS URGED TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY. Plan to Check Emigration to the Citiea la Adopted— District School Teachers Will Aid— Cpnrse in Agriculture Prepared. To stem the fide of emigration of farmer boys to the cities will hereafter be one of the duties of the Illinois district school teacher. At the meeting of County School Superintendents at Springfield the statement was made that the attendance at countty schools was falling off so fast us almost to threaten their extinction. This assertion was confirmed in a measure by the last census report, which indicates clearly that the rural population of Illinois is drifting gradually to the cities and larger towns, leaving the farms* with a smaller population each year. A plan to check this emigration has been a problem engaging the attention of country educators for years, and they think a solution has been reached finally in the bill permitting the consolidation of poor districts and the new course of pgriculture just introduced into the rural schools of the State. Assuming that the country boy grows up ignorant of the real beauties of country life and farming, a course of study has been prepared which will stimulate his interest in things agricultural. Wlien he becomes of age the theory is that he will choose to remain on the farm rather than seek the more strenuous life of the city. A committee of school superintendents was appointed by the Springfield convention to prepare the new course. It fol-lows-closely the course in the University of Illinois’ College of Agriculture. Every topic concerning the farm is covered, a detailed description of each kind of grain, vegetable, and fruit being required of the scholars. The students are expected to plant experimental patches of various products, watching each daily and reporting on the progress made. The amount constituting a day's work in the different lines of labor about a farm is asked in one question, and the student is required to make a close study of the subject.