Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-12
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Farmers School.

The necessity Of Il man for a teacher or
principal, a farm for illustration and profit,
and buildings for homes and lecture rooms
is apparent to every one. Several other
conveniences would be desirable, such as
reasonable proximity to railroad, telegraph,
mail aud market. Yet there are those tha t
would prefer the railroad, telegraph aud mar
ket some miles away
What shall be the management of the
farmers school? Perhaps we may learn
somewhat from the ancient school of Pythago-
ras. lie taught the young men of his coun-
try. The first year they remained silent aud
listened to the lectures and discussions. The
second year they could answer when their
opinion was asked. The third year they
participated in the discussions Of all topics
under consideration. His students became
the prominent men Of the natoa.
The farm should be managed by the prin-
cipal and the class Of the third year after
the institution Is well under way. The class
of the second year should be consulted also.
The class OF the first year should see with
their eyes, hear with their ears, work aud
study, Three years should be required to
pass through the courses of study although
short or partial courses should be allowed
for the convenience of those who desire to
attend for a short time.
From the FIRST start scholars should assist
in planning the management Of the farm auC
doing the work. and all the income should
be for the benefit of the teachers aud schol.
ars. | mean by this that if there are milk,
butter, eggs, fowls, veal, mutton, venson,
pork, fish, apples, pears, strawberries, rasp'
berries, blackberries sweet corn, peas, mel
ons, squash or any products that are food fol
man, the scholars shall eat them as freely a:
the supply will allow and necessity requires
can conceive there will be great benefit ii
this. Thou shalt not muzzle the OK tina
treadeth out the corn" What enthusiast,
plannings there would be to make every
product excellent and to produce many
things The teachers should also share il
these products. 1t should be the aim her
as well as on the farm to make each succeed
ing year more profitable.
To put this in another way we will sup
pose that there are forty students and tina
there is purchased in the school one thou.
sand dollars worth of provisions aside from
the farm products, then the board bill o
each student should be only twenty-five dol
lars for the year, and il possible their tut
tion should be free The teacher would be pal
by the interest of an endowment The family
system ought to be adopted, one fare, on
table and ASSOCIATION.
1t may be well for those who are to b
doctors, lawyers. editors or men Of Othe
callings where their duties are in solitude
in offices, counting rooms, shops, manu-
iacturies entirely away from home, to b
ignorant of all that makes up a home excep
as it is place to eat and sleep. They ma
growl at the tough steak rancid butter @
tainted meat, for the fault may be due to car
lessness in the selection in market, But Il
farmer makes his market and every iau
in food has cause aud it can be remedi,
! aud at farmers school the food produce
should be as perfect as nature and intelligeT
labor eau make it,
One more item at this time. The gir
, should be educated at these same schoo
p Farmers need wives in sympathy with the
, calling, but if this were not so, there are al
OF domestic economy that girls ought
: learn, and should be taught,
h As there is much evidence tn
both sexes can be educated as safely al
= thoroughly at the same institution as sepa
ately their requirements will be as gre
: and their tone Of thought aud mind
Y healthy. At western agricultural cole
y where farm is worked, the farmer sells
It produce and the students must buy eve
y % egg, pint of milk, berry or potato they u
. Such course can hardly be stimulating
D, enthusiastic study and labor on farm. \
O. one more idea at this time. Every stud
n that attends this farmers school must W,
20 20 a certain number Of hours on the farm or
g shop each day. No wealth or aristocra
IN notions shall cause difference in
b. amount Of labor or kind of labor perform'
Remarkable optitudes may be recognized
, equally in the poor as in the rich. TIL
m should be developed talent for care of sto
u fruit, landscape or vegetable gardenl
OF architecture, etc Yet all work is equ'
10 honorable, and work is necessary,
- u. Il. JAMESON