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Show .. -. r . Zj. THE? NEWFARMER. v .Jj x.,m - k J The farm problem of America is not iti bursting barns nor high-bred stock nor soil fertility, nor even in the t rural school, but in the farmer, him-self. him-self. Its solution is in the individual known as the new farmer. The dreary drudgery of the old farm existence is fast passing away, and in its place is coming a. broad, rich, free livelihood ncvur known before "the new country coun-try life." The new farmer lives the new country life. The new farmer builds for his wife and children a modern, sanitary, attractive home. The new farmer makes hard roads, he installs a telephone, receives his mail by free delivery and encourages intcrurban service, supports a thriving thriv-ing rural church and demands an efficient ef-ficient consolidated school with a high school course for his sons and daughters daugh-ters at home. The new farmer reads r.nd thinks, he studies his own environment, envir-onment, sees his opportunity and limitations; limi-tations; improves the one and removes re-moves the other. The new farmer js not only a scientist, 'but a sociologist. He works in harmony with his neighbors neigh-bors for the general good and uplift of his immediate community, and above all else he realizes the dignity and importance of his own profession and individuality in the permanent and national welfare. But all farmers of today arc not new farmers. Some arc the moss-backs. moss-backs. It devolves upon teachers and educators responsible for future conditions con-ditions to catch the farmer of tomorrow tomor-row in his infancy and train him up in the way he should go to train him not enly in the three R's, but to give him an insight and understanding into the conditions of his own environment environ-ment that will enable him to solve, the problematic situations of his life wisely wise-ly and well. The country school teacher thus becomes the greatest social so-cial and educational influence of a rural community. In towns and cities there are doctors, lawyers, editors, business men, ministers. In the country coun-try the community is composed only of farmers and the school teacher. There is frequently not even a church or minister. Leadership then naturally natural-ly and logically falls upon the country coun-try teacher, and nowhere are leaders mo-needed. Through the inspira-ticJraKind inspira-ticJraKind uplift and direction of the rural teacher this association aims to fdvance the welfare of coimtryco-plc, coimtryco-plc, and all that pertains to rAtral life. Arthur J. Bell. . . , |