Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-09-05

extended aid for the establishment of Agri-
cultural Colleges throughout the country.
The difficulty with our institutions of learn
ing generally has been that the course of
studies has looked towards the preparation
of students for some one Ct the professions,
and not TO qualify them for practical agr-
cultural or mechanical pursuits. Agricul-
tural Colleges have naturally, and almost
necessarily, all things considered, drifted
into the same course of studies, and have
consequently failed in great measure, TO
exert that beneficial influence upon the
farming interests which it was hoped they
would exercise. The Illinois Industrial
School, which found itself drifting into the
old College ruts and sending out workers
in almost every other branch OF industry
except the ones for which it was specially
intended TO fit young men, on accepting
the donation voted by Congress, resolved
to make further effort for the establish
ment of a school of instruction specially
adapted TO the wants of those engaged in
agricultural and mechanical pursuits. At
a recent meeting of the Board Of Trustees,
the following resolution was adopted:
ReSolUed, That compliance with the
spirit of the law of Congress, which provid
Oh ro, tho establishment of Agricultural
co,,egos in tbo several States. reouires that
this institution be devoted as a leading OBJ
iect to imparting such instruction to its
nunils as shall be necessary TO the intelli-
cent practice of agriculture and the other
branches of learning. whether enioined or
only permitted by the aforesaid law, Is to
be regarded as merely secondary.
This resolution shows that the Trustees
OF the college are aware that they nave
drlited away from the original landmarks
OF the institution-that they have yielded
to opportunities, perhaps necessities-and
lost sight OF the original OBJECTS Tor when
the college was Established, ana IL is grail
Tying to see them show desire to return
10 the original plan ana take new start,
supported by new resolve.
AT meeting OF the National Educatlon-
al Association IN Elmyra, New YORK, last
week, Dr. M Cosh, PRESIDENT OF princeton
College, delivered an address IN when ne
attempted to show that Agricultural COL
leges are failures, ana That the assistance
extended TO them by The General Govern
ment IS unJustto other institutions OF learn
ing, ana TO other classes oil people than
those following agricultural anu hlechani-
cal pursuits mat ne may nave alalr near
ing In the presentation OF MS views, we
make the following liberal extract from
the New YORK Trlbune's Synopsis OF MS
remarks:
What should be done with those ninety
millions worth of unappropriated lands
belonging to the general government? We
| all know that proposal was made in last
session of Congress to devote the whole or
the half of the sum to be realized by the
sale of these lands TO what were called az
ricultural schools. The agricultural schools
and the schools of science which expected
to receive a share ofthe funds, were en-
ployed for months in prep airing and pro-
noting this measure. Members of the
Senate and of the House were anxious to
be able to 90 back to their constituents
with the assurance that thew brought down
with them 10 their State half million of
money or $50. 900 wear. Friends of edu-
cation were glad to get the sum allocated
to some good educational end, were it only
TO prevent it from being wasted in political
iobbinp, But some of us. when we learned
that such measure was quietly passing
the House and Senate, courageouslv set
ourselves against the ALLEGATION of so large
a sum of money to SO narrow and sectional
purpose. We argued that so far as these
schools were simply Agricultural ones.
good as to entitle them TO so large an en-
dowment. hold very resolutely that be-
fore so large sum be lavished on them
there should be special inquiry into what
they are, and what they are doing, into the
number of bona fide agricultural pupils,
and especially as to the number Of those
trained who have thought ii worth their
while to turn TO farming. l could show
that in no country in the world has agri-
culture been much beAefited by mere az
| rlcultural schools. In Scotland, where the
farming is SO excellent agriculture is pro-
NOTED by farmers associations, with mag
azines and lectures. int not bv special col
lepes. In all Germany there are only six
agricultural colleges, and I can testify from
personal visitation that some of them are
very feeble institutions. fla youth is bent
on being scientific agriculturist. let him
90 to an institution for general science. with
n chair of aoriculturo ottocbed and let him
learn the art OIL the farm. We are entitled
to insist that before Agricultural scbools re-
ceiye the last Gift of land Which the General
Government has to bestow that they be ex-
amined and reported on by competen,
commission.
Dat ,,o,, :, ,.o, ,,..oa .,,o. - - .,
ao,.aa,s ~ ~ hoas,,o, 1884,. ' - ,, '"o
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