So it may prove at length that you will have to sell a load of corn in order to set up in the garret of your house a miniature art studio of some kind for your young son. Or, perhaps you may have to establish a small machine shop as an adjunct to the barn or wood shed, wherein the budding genius may blossom into that beauty of manly power and efficiency which all the world is glad to admire. Out of just such a wise indulgence as that last named a certain Kansas boy finally became enabled to revolutionize the old farm home and the work done there through the installation of an excellent motor power plant. Electric light for the house and barn, power for operating feed grinder, washing machine, grindstone, fanning mill, and many other such machines—all this has resulted from the rightly directed work of a youth who could have easily been driven to the city into some treadmill of mere wage earning.
But, occasionally the boy will prove himself a versatile character, succeeding in a measure in every line of small business to which you introduce him, yet showing a marked success in none. In such case the advisable thing to do is to continue his general education for a longer period than is necessary for the boy who shows an early inclination toward a given line of work.
Some will be retained on the farm
It is admittedly desirable, all things fairly considered, that many of the very best boys remain on the farm and help develop rural life into what it should be. Hence the necessity of finding a way to interest such boys in some of the many business affairs connected with the farm home. Perhaps there is no better way to develop the lad’s interest in the affairs of the place than that of allowing him to participate in the practical business transactions as the conditions may allow. Let the parents take him to the store, the bank, and other such places for the benefit of his experience. Send him in with the produce with authority to sell and to invest a part of the proceeds in whatever the family may need. The father should have the boy with him when selecting and buying machinery or live stock at public sales. Send him to the bank with checks or drafts to be deposited or collected. Give him an opportunity to keep the family accounts, or at least to keep his own recorded in a book.
The ordinary farmer can think of more ways than the foregoing whereby to give his growing son the needed experience in money matters. The best result of such practice is that if there be anything in connection with the affairs of the farm in which the boy will have a native interest this aptitude will be discovered; and it can then be made the basis of the young man’s introduction into a successful participation in some practical business. The boy’s permanent calling is seriously involved in this discussion. On page 279 of this book will be found a description of three methods of vocational training.
The awakening often comes from without
Parents who find it difficult to arouse the farm boy’s interest in any part of the home business may sometimes easily secure the desired result by sending the youth away on a trip to the county fair or other such place. As a means of stimulating boys in respect to some kind of productive home industry the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College instituted a school of agriculture for country youths at the state fair. Each organized farmers’ institute and each county superintendent was asked to send one boy. A large tent was furnished by the college. This served for a lecture and display room during the day and a boys’ sleeping room during the night.
At the first session 122 boys attended, coming from 57 counties. The lectures covered such subjects as farm crops, veterinary science, track and field athletics. The displays at the fair were used for illustrative matter. So far the results of the school have been reported most favorable. An increasing number of boys throughout the state are making preparation for it.