The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-09-14
Agricultural Department.
BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
II VI tIIt fNVB TTFNTf
Manual Labor IN German Schools.
The department of agriculture poin


Germany, as follows:
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN GER
MANY The reported present status of
agricultural education in Germany, as
fostered and controlled by the imperial
embraces the following
facts and features. The system includes
agricultural common schools, middle
schools, and academies; and from these
an agricultural course in the universe
ties. The course of instruction i'll the
common schools embraces theoretical
and practical lessons in agriculture
veterinary lessons and demonstrations
surveying, and something more of Sic
entifc instruction than is impaired in
other elementary schools. The middle
schools teach arithmetic, history, and
geos raphy; the English, French, and
German languages, chemistry, physio-
logy, botany and zoology; agricultural
management in general, with lectures
on veterinary treatment, drawing, build
ing, and agricultural laws. These two
classes of agricultural schools are espe-
cially designed to impart the best prac-
teal education for their vocation to
those who, without higher advantages,
are to becomce small farmers or over
seers of small farms. Accordingly in
connection with their studies and under
direction disqualified teachers, they are
required to practice all kinds Of farm
W0rh, in order that they may acquire
practical Judgement uHU sIiU for doing
the same themselves, or directing labor
ers under them to do it, in the most APP
proved and profitable way. There are
scattered through the empire something
over one hundred and fifty of these two
classes of schools, though some of them
are limited in the course of instruction
to specialties, as vine and fruit culture,
horticulture, Bookkeeping, &c. The pu-
pills receive board and lodging in the
establishment each pupil is required to
pay only fifty-five dollars year, the
state paying the remainder.
There are in the empire six agricul-
tural academies; located at Eldena,
Proskau, Popplesdorf, Munich, Tharand,
and Hohenhein. Connected NTH these
academies are lands on achich the stu
dents are gicen demonstrations and
training IN experimental processes, in
addition to instruction in all sciences
related to agriculture.
In the universities all instruction to
agricultural students is theoretical, the
prevalent idea in late years being that
II is better for such students, after gain
ing good preparatory education, to
spend few years in practical farming
previous to theoretical instruction in
the university. There are nine univer.
sites which have agricultural depart
ments; those at Berth, Halle, Coffin
gen, Konigsberg, Leipsic, Heidelberg
Jena, Giesen, and kiel.
1t will be seen by reading attentively
the above statement, that, in the only
country where agricultural schools have
become a regular part of the public sys
TEN of education, manual labor ant
practical instruction are essential char
acteristics of the training of all thes(
students who are expected TO prac
tice in after life the manual operations
of the farm. By noting the studies pur
sued, it will be seen that what are called
"common schools" and "middle schools
give an education fully equivalent Il
our high schools and academies. Ii
these the practice of all kinds of farm
work is taught, in connection with the
regular studies.
In the academies" which are o
about the grade of our agricultural col
leges, "training in experimental pro
cesses" is given in connection with in
struction in all sciences related to agri
culture.
The three classes of schools mention
ed above educate all the practical farm
ers, few of these being able, after pass
ing through them, to go on to tn
universities. Still, these universitie
have agricultural departments wher
provision is made for the instruction c
students, all or nearly all of whom
probably, are the sons of great Ian
holders who will become the success
ors of their fathers in the managemer
of their large estates. In these univel
sites manual labor is not required
Still it is expected of these students tn,
after going through the preparation
schools they shall spend a fer gears
practical .farmiEg, before going to Il
University.
We have in this country no studen
answering TO these of the German Tn
versity agricultural classes. They a
young men who, inheriting great c
tates, do no expect to follow the ploy
but are fitting themselves for their
ture station in life, among the aristocr
cy of the most aristocratic empire {
earth.
We are not particularly anxious
see any attempt made in this coun
servilely to follow out the education
system of any European nation. VIII
is wanted here is a system of practit
education for young men and WON
who expect to work for their 'livin
So far, all our schools are upon sing
plan, designed, originally, to teach fiji
the most elementary branches, as in o
common ungraded district schools, a
then if the student proceeds to take h
along the course, which, IL followed
ends in tine curriculum of the litera
cUiicges, anu MS the sUIivIar u
fessional or commercial life.
There is no provision in our sch,
system for any sort of training adapt
to the wants of the vast majority Nv
must earn their bread by the labor
their hands. The kind of training
this purpose ought to be as diflert
from that suited to the professio
classes as the training of a work no
is from that ola racer. And work.
man educated in our classical and p
fessional schools is as poorly fitted
the workshop and the farm as a no
trained for the race-course is for te
horse.