Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10

years have come under your instruction?
Have you endeavored to impress upon
their minds the importance of the science
of agriculture? Have YOU told them
that they should become acquainted with
the elementary science pertaining to agri-
culture in order to become intelligent and
successful farmers? You say that War
ings Elements of Agriculture was once
text book in your school. Why has it
been discontinued? Have you found
better text book upon agriculture, or have
you abandoned the teaching of agricul-
tural science?
Referring to the schools in Caledonia
county, you say you know that in the
largest academy in the county, studies are
taken that will enable the pupils to teach
Warnings Elements with success. Let me
ask how many of the pupils in that insti-
tuition who have graduated with honor
can tell the names and kinds of qrdss that
grows in that school yard? How many of
them can tell the name of the soil upon
which that grass grows and maturesp
Can one of those young men tell from
anything he has learned in that Irregular
course " the difference between a slaty
stllu CilOttCOuo sui OCJWCcu ll8IlJ anu
peaty soils? Can they tell the component
parts of good superphosphate of lime9
Can they tell on what crops gypsum or
plaster of Paris produces the best results
Have they, in fact, learned anything that
will be of practical advantage to them rs
tllers of the soil? And those young la
dies who have graduated from year 10
year from that Largest academy in the
county," what have they learned that is of
practical benefit to them in the great battle
of lifeP Can they tell from anything they
have learned in that course of study, how
to make good loaf of 6read2 Can they
tell the methods and conditions necessary
for performing the thousands of duties
pertaining to household economy? These
matters may be regarded as of tho earth,
earthy, but so long as all must perform
their part in life. is it not highly import
ant that they should be trained for these
duties?
Schools are being organized for these
especial duties in many places because our
public schools neglect the most important
part of the education of our youth.
The worthy professor of the Largest
academy in the county," who is now tray.
cling in Europe, writes home to the press,
but upon what does he write? Has he
noticed or commented upon the farming
of the old world compared with ours, and
drawn conclusions, favorable or other
wise, for the interest of the pupils in that
school from the farmp A majority of the
scholars in that school are the sons and
daughters of farmers and laborcrs.
Is it not fact that the teachers of such
schools are urging their smartest scholars
to fit fer college and get liberal educa-
ton, us it is calledP Do they expect
them to 60 from the college to the farm?
Not at all. They will get into the now
over-crowded professions. u they can. If
not, they will teach farming In our COM
mon schools if the districts will pay them
what they think they ought to earn in
some profession.
| join heartily in the amen of my
schoolmaster friend, whoever he may 2,
" for studies in our schools having special
relation to the needs of the farmer" Let
the educators and the farmers come to-
gether with fraternal feeling, and push
unitedly for the education of the most nu
merous and important class in the COM
munity-the tillers of the soil of the old
| Green Mountain state.
JONATHAN LAWRENCE.
P; umpsc, Vt.