The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-02

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Of chemical physics, or mathematics, or Of me-
chanics and surveying and rural engineering, OF
OF political economy and history, or Gf geology,
or veterinary, are reduced to minimum or gem
orally stricken out altogether before applying for
aid,
do not complain Of this, only state it. But
Il Ia hardly worth while TO enter on new fields
before the one we cultivate has put on the come
illness of vigor and healthy growth. La every
vote in the House in previous years, more farmers
have voted for the college than against IT, and the
college hopes through the efforts OF farmers and
all interested in education, to b scome just what
is needed as professional school of agriculture,
and then to have .heir hearty confidence and sup
The growth has doubtless been slow. Profess
.sors OF agricultural chemistry and horticulture
had TO be made, or rather in the face OF adverse
criticism, with every failure through inexPeriepce
open to the world, TO make themselves. Text
books were not. Inc SCHOOLS were hiled WI a
teachers who, coming from other institutions.
turned their pupis's ambition to the halls the.
had left. The course, devoid OF classics, crowded
with science, compelling to manual labor. and
long. was repulsive to many. Aud have known
students coming TO college in the spring, hearing
OF doubts as to whether appropriations would be
made. to determine that they could not aff1rd the
considerable expenses OF starting on, In suoh I'M
certainties, pack their goods and return to their
homes.
COURSE or sruDr.
The course Of instruction at our Agricultural
College should be such a. to made good farmers,
at Ieaet nut the students and graduates in the
way Of becoming such. Let us turn our sttep-
ton first to the indoor course of instruction.
be,ie We the law la right in its requirements for
admission, This is as follows: "No studept shall
be admitted to this institute n who ia not fifteen
Years OF age and who does not PASS satisfactory
examination In arithmetic. geography, grammar,
reading, spelling and PENN anship. These
branches are not taught at the college,
The common schools OF the State can Garry for.
ward The education Of Young men go far To IN
the standard Of admission higher would be to ex-
oude many from the halls Of the College who
have no means of carving their preparatory edu-
cation any higher, a. Q matter nj fact, the
average age &c admission was (19T4l eighteen
and half Years, and larger part pf the fresh
men had some knowledge Of algebra and other
branches. The requirements for admission mig bit
no increa-ed with the increased eff cheney OF our
commop sobooIs,
shall the course Of study be purely profession
a,7 Such courses seldom exist in any school,
Take a medical course OF study, and it's chemis-
try belongs to manufactures as well az medicine;
its anatomy and phvaiolopy are no mart Of medi
c'na Hurlev arndes them MT tn nraciice Int
"a ~. ,s;tn ~ sni,o Al L;nsdonn and snsncar and
Rain make nhvsioiopv the introdnctioi, to mental
so,anca T'achnolouieal srhooI. nsuallv teach
.o;onoo. ~ w.Il ss their annlicationa md III q
,,nas,n ,snguages
Rnt n NAV he thoupbt that vbile cbenjstrv
ho,anv and ,he ike lie closelv enonph to Tie
,,ronay fialds IF an aprisnursl edncation. Htera.
,,ni;ac.i aenn"nv and The ias arc ,no re.
,,at frn,n ID oh;aets In nave = pisca in anch nm
;nstttnton ss onrs let me nnote tn won the
aIoonsnt words of Mr.. Williams. the frat presi-
danI. ~ This inc .itution. "A farmer r. a citixan
obIsed to bear h,s norton of pubie buraens''
omsrabla tn Tho laws. aud In mn hnmbler or .
,.;aar ,anaa NAV become n eY nonant ~ sociatv
He sbanld he abie IN execut., therefore the d1.
tiaa of even highly responsible stations with self
raliance and inteliigenee The constitntion Of the
JInon. and of his state. he sbould comprehend.
and the laws and forms relative To tnwpship and
connIv ,ff;eers and their duties. He ahnnId he
nm lifted To keen farm accounts draux lit ordinary
instrpmanta. survey his farm and level for drains
and hiuhwa,s His native language All, MID be !
arrbe iustrument at bis command. which he
anon ii speak and write with ease aud vigor. ,bat
ha NAV fnst,nct and imnresa nthars aver. mis-.
chief. If" or insuleate truth. man moved nv earn.
sst reflection or deep emotion. should have
capacil to give them utterance and force in his
moth toneue."
TT thess stunjes then are highly desirable. II
restling, III, elenents OF political economy, cor
reotness aud facility OF speech are requisite tt
the education, VIII, should thsy not be taught ri
the Agricultural College, il they are given theil
proper place rs subordinate to the special studitt
that are peculiarly appropriate to the course
They cannot be taught much more cheaply any
where else, for our classes could be joined te
no classes in other colleges without an increase
OF instructors.
Unless these studies are taught at the college
its students will not have them at all. 1t is use
ess 10 tsR oi tneir gong 10 otner SCHOOLS 10 eart
these mugs. 1ouns iheh, unWieey, az peheve
take the shortest ROAD 10 entrance on their life.
business. fou nave only 10 open catalogues Of
~" anu meoiosl scnuois " sec no" lsw aie
marked as having compieteo any course OF study
preparatory 10 tne'r pro1essionsl course. taken
altogether II 10 scarcely more than one IN ten Ii
then, studehts VIII not take preparatory course
for short curricu urn Into the learned PROBES,
sions, al whose traditions favor erudition, they
are haroly hRey 10 90 30 tor our longer course Ii
order 70 reach business where an education is
commonly thought 10 DC THROWN away.
ms ~ider range OF STUDY Is Id aceordsnce WIFI
general a. sire aba sne law. Inc inaugural al
dreee OF Pfesldent Williams, the law organizing
the college, the law Oh re- organization, the vari
Gus addresses ana reports oil siml ar institutions
| IN the country, ali agree In recommending this
wide range OF study.
Inc law OF congress donating pubic lands &c
ne several states ana territories which may pro
vide 90 ieges Tor the beneht OF agriculi ure and
me meohanio are, PROVIDES that the interest Of
the fund shall be inviolably appropriated
to the endowment, support and maintepance OF q
nSrD tEnEI