The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-09
A Farm school.

A Farm school.
There is still an open field to private en-
terprise for farm school in the state of In
diana. That such school, organized on a
proper plan, would meet with both approbe-
ton and patronage, there can be no doubt.
There are many gentlemen in professional life
who would be glad enough to give their sons
an education both theoretic and practical, in
the business of farming. 1t is one of the per-
picking problems of the day, to take care of
the boys and give them good send
off in the best direction for a life pur-
suit. To do this the boy himself
must be studied. His disposition, talents
and adaptation are to be consulted in the
direction OF his education. Lawyers, doc
tors, ministers have sons who are not fitted
by natural ability, nor by tastes, to pursue
the same professions as their fathers. Many
of these would be found adapted to the
profession Of farming, and nothing would
suit better than to start them in that direc-
ton. Besides, it is desirable for the public
good to divert as many as possible of the
rising generation,to the pursuits Of agricul-
ture and horticulture. But the barriers
in the way to prevent lawyers son from
becoming farmer are much more formidable
than those which stand in the way of the
farmers son in adopting the profession of
law. This city dweller often tries the ex-
pertinent ofsending his son out to spend
the season with some farmer in the country.
1t is rarely successful for various reasons,
but mainly because it is only one chance in
a thousand that the busy farmer is az all
fitted to manage the city boy, or disposed to
give him any attention. He can not do
we'll taking his chances with the farm hands,
unaided and unencouraged. A farm
school might be constructed by smart man,
not by the state, which would exactly meet
this case. Probably the original conception
of the state agricultural colleges provided
for by congress was closely akin to this idea
of giving the farming profession special
facilities for education other professions
have. But by an unfortunate breadth given
to the statute, enabling it to be so construed
as to comprehend the whole field of univer
sity instruction, the ambitious faculties
and managers have run clear
away from the system which
would make the institutions of special value
to the farming interest, and spread their
sails for a course of scholarship that is away
out ofsight of the demands of a true farm
school. The agricultural colleges are uni
versities in design and plan, taking in the
broadcast courses OF science, mathematics
mechanics, classics and everything that can
be named. The Illinois Industrial Uni
versity proposes to cover the whole field of
learning with a broader reach than any
other institution OF the state. Prof.
Owen distinctly stated that his idea of
Purdue was to fit its students
for teachers and superintendent in
mechanical, engineering and scientific
operations, and the present president of the
school contemplates making it, to all intents
and purposes, polytechnic school of the
highest order, and desires it to represent the
headquarters Of natural science for the state,
leaving to the State University at Bloom
ington the duty Of teaching classics and
literature as a speciality. Very well, SO be
it. Its plans are extended beyond the Sem
tinel's idea of the farm school, which would
meet the exact requirements of young men
who propose to follow the business of
farming as practical lite work. |
This school should combine the advantages |
of a limited course of study and practical |
work on the farm. A fair education is the |
essential foundation of every business pur-
suit. No father would willingly assign his |
boy to business which did not begin with |
the culture and development of his mind. |
But the educators of this day have strong |
to exsggerate toe range and scope /
of school courses. The farmer must needs |
be intelligent, and the more scientific the
better. the more cultured in literature, phi
losophy and every other branch of learning
the better. But high scholarship is not es-
sential to a irst-class farmer; good /
business education is. The farm school
should confer good education in the COM
mon English branches, in accounts and COM
mercial usages and principles, something in
those sciences closely allied to farming and
gardening, and should give the pupil a
and careful training in teamwork
along with bis studies. Such school would
be most delightful, profitable, and popular.
It should be established on one of the most
forbdding tracts of farm land comprising
The widest variety of soil and conditions pos
sible. The farm colleges are located on the
'airest and best selected tracts that can be
ound, where the very lowest order of skill
md the simplest operations will
'rgurs success. There Is little