[AT] The dis/FARM SCHOOLS

[charlie hill]

I graduated from a high school named Farm Life High School.  When I was 
there it was just an ordinary rural high school but when my father was there 
it really was a farm school.  My dad lived close by and just attended as an 
ordinary student but it also functioned as a boarding school for kids from 
far areas that didn't have a high school.  They lived there and worked in 
the dairy or growing row crops.  My mother taught there in the 40's and 
lived in the "teacherage" which was a dormatory for teachers.   This school 
was in Vanceboro NC.  A lot of the kids that came as boarding students when 
my dad was there in the 20's were from out on Ocracoke Island.  Their 
parents brought them by boat across the Pamlico Sound, up the Neuse River 
and eventually up Swift Creek to the town of Vanceboro.

Charlie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] The disappearing past


> CEE VILL wrote:
>> As a boy, we lived in NYS about five miles from a state school for
>> boys that was an Ag. set up.  It was a large complex and consisted of
>> several farm operations on the campus.  I recall hearing of the pig
>> farm, the dairy farm, etc. I do not know the land amount, but I have
>> no doubt it was 150 to 200 acres with several complexes of houses and
>> barns.  The incarcerated youth worked these farms and produced all of
>> the food for the facility and probably more along with being schooled
>> part of the day. A group of boys would be assigned to live in a house
>> at each farm.  There was also another large confinement building
>> which housed many boys who may have had problems which would preclude
>> them from living on one of the farms. Bad boys from statewide were
>> brought to this facility.  The operation provided a good number of
>> jobs for area residents.  It was believed that being close to animals
>> and farming gave many aimless youth a sense of self worth.
>>
>> Sometime probably around 1970 it was decided or ruled that this was
>> forced labor and must cease.  The farms were closed down and in time
>> the buildings pretty much went to ruin. The main complex still
>> operates as a state school and houses many youth. Some 8 or 10 years
>> ago, a prison type fence with razor wire top was installed around the
>> complex, due to the violent nature of some of the inmates.
>>
>> Yes, things have changed.
>>
>> Charlie in WNY
>>
>
> Gee Charlie, You mean they went to a farm, learned how the farm
> operated, how to plant and raise crops, how to harvest and then use the
> crops to support themselves and provide more for others?
>
> Sounds like Cornell or SUNY Cobleskill to me, except you have to PAY
> through the nose to attend either of those schools...
>
> Reminds me of the old Montgomery county home for the aged. It was
> originally a fully operational farm and the people who moved there would
> work in the fields if they wished. They had cattle, horses and raised
> crops to feed them. Plus they had some nice gardens where they grew food
> for themselves and even held a small "farmers market". Then the county
> decided that this was improper treatment for the old folks (who, if
> anyone bothered to ask, Loved the place and liked having the work to do)
> and they shut down the farming parts. The place went from actually
> making money to being a typical old folks storage facility. Then it was
> closed by the county. It has since been CLAIMED by a bunch of Mohawk
> Indians, who sell the typical "hand made" trinkets. The place could be
> self sufficient but they get enough handouts that they don't bother.
>
> -- 
> Steve W.
> Firefighter,EMT
> VanHornesville Vol. Fire Dept
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