PREFACE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

FARM BOYS AND GIRLS

CHAPTER I BUILDING A GOOD LIFE

What is a good life?

Is the human stock comparatively sound?

CHAPTER II THE TIME TO BUILD

What of the human instincts

CHAPTER III THE RURAL HOME AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

What agencies build up character?

Moving to town for the children

A back-to-the-country club

CHAPTER IV THE COUNTRY MOTHER AND THE CHILDREN

Poor conditions of women

For the sake of the children

CHAPTER V CONSTRUCTING THE COUNTRY DWELLING

Plans and specifications not available

What appeals to the children

The house plan

How one farmer does it

Outbuildings and equipment

Human rights prior to animal rights

The children’s room

The evening hour

CHAPTER VI JUVENILE LITERATURE IN THE FARM HOME

How good thinking grows up and flourishes

Types of literature

A SELECTED LIST

CHAPTER VII THE RURAL CHURCH AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE

Decadence of rural life

Work for the ministry

The country minister

A mistake in training

Rural child-rearing

The churches too narrow

Constructive work of the church

An innovation in the rural church

Spiritualize child life

A summary

CHAPTER VIII THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE RURAL SCHOOL

Radical changes in the view-point and method

All have a right to culture

Work for a longer term

Compulsory attendance laws needed

Better schoolhouses and equipment

A model rural school

The Cornell schoolhouse

Help make a school play ground

General instruction in agriculture

Domestic economy and home sanitation

Consolidation of rural schools

More high schools needed

Better rural teachers needed

CHAPTER IX THE COUNTY YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

Boys leave the farm too young

Purposes of the County Y.M.C.A.

How to organize a county association

How to conduct the work

Spirituality not lost sight of

Work in a sparsely settled country

CHAPTER X THE FARMER AND HIS WIFE AS LEADERS OF THE YOUNG

Preparation for the service

Work persistently for social unity

Corn-raising and bread-baking clubs

Other forms of contests

The improvement of the school situation

Home and school play problems

A neighborhood library

Holidays and recreation for the young

Many over-work their children

Federation for country life progress

The vocations of boys and girls

Other local possibilities

The boy-scout movement

Rural boy-scouts in Kansas

CHAPTER XI HOW MUCH WORK FOR THE COUNTRY BOY

See that the work is for the boy’s sake

Not enforced labor, but mastery

Provide vacations for the boy

A tentative schedule of hours

Think out a reasonable plan

CHAPTER XII HOW MUCH WORK FOR THE COUNTRY GIRL

A balanced life for the girl

Work begins with obedience

Working the girls in the field

Some specific suggestions

Do you own your daughter?

Difficult to make a schedule

Teach the girl self-supremacy

Summary

CHAPTER XIII SOCIAL TRAINING FOR FARM BOYS AND GIRLS

A happy mean is needed

A social renaissance in the country

Conditions to guard against

A center of community life

Invite the young to the house

How to conduct a social entertainment

What about the country dance

Additional forms of entertainment

Some concluding suggestions

CHAPTER XIV THE FARM BOY’S INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS

What is in your boy?

Much experimentation necessary

Start on a small scale

Give your son a square deal

Keep the boy’s perfect good will

Some will be retained on the farm

The awakening often comes from without

An awakening in the south

Partnership between father and son

Summary and concluding suggestions

CHAPTER XV BUSINESS TRAINING FOR THE COUNTRY GIRL

Is the country girl neglected?

Why the girl leaves the farm

Certain rules to be observed

Should there be an actual investment?

CHAPTER XVI WHAT SCHOOLING SHOULD THE COUNTRY BOY HAVE?

Changes in rural school conditions

The boy a bundle of possibilities

Classes of native ability

The great talented class

Round out the boy’s nature

Other important matters

Develop an interest in humanity

CHAPTER XVII WHAT SCHOOLING SHOULD THE COUNTRY GIRL HAVE?

Special problems relating to the girl

Protecting the girl at school

Lessons in music and art

The reward will come in time

The mother’s office as teacher

Home-life education

Education for supremacy

An outlook for social life

CHAPTER XVIII THE FARM BOY’S CHOICE OF A VOCATION

Should the farmer’s son farm?

Impatience of parents

What of predestination?

Three methods of vocational training

The farmer fortunate

What college for the country boy

The foundation in work

Clean up the place

Money value of an agricultural education

A successful vocation certain

CHAPTER XIX THE FARM GIRL’S PREPARATION FOR A VOCATION

What is the outlook

Desirable occupations for women

A college course for the girl

Associations with refined young men

Make the daughter attractive

Summary and conclusion

CHAPTER XX CONCLUSION, AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

Strive for preconceived results

Consult expert advice

Meet each awakening interest

Work for social democracy

The outlook very promising

The modern service training

The state doing its part

The new era of religion

Final conclusion

INDEX

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