Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-22
Agricultural schools.


Have We an agricultural school any
where in the cOuLtryf If so, the writer
has no knowledge Of it, though be often
meets with illusions to agricultural cell
leges, ETC., in the newspapers. There is
an agricultural department attached to
the University Of the State OF Georgia at
Athens, with several branches; and
there are many colleges in the United
States, where the general principles
Of agriculture are supposed to be
taught; but a genuine, practical, COM
mon sense agricultural school, where
boys are taught 10 be correct farmers,
does not exist in the country so far as we
know. minute details as to farming"
says Philadelphia editor, quoted by the
Mobile Register, 'tnever can be taught in
schools because Of the many varying cir
cumstances," etc. How is thisi What
theories now taught, and without their
endless "varying circumstancesT II
these varying circumstances" prevent
us from being practical, their theme is no
branch Of knowledge of which we possess
more than a theoretical smatteT1ng.
The sentiment grows Out of the colleges
and originates in their jealousy of their
high and ancient dignity, which was
founded upon and still subsists upon the
cry as distinguished from practice. The
Georgia University demonstrated it's fear
Of the consequences Of separate and
independent establishment, when it's in
fiuence defeated such a movement among
the people five or six years ago, and sue
ceeded in having all sHch prsrogatives
conferred upon itself. TOquiet the people
their moving for a bread-wlnning COM
mon sense and less theory, several
branches were granted and funds pro-
vided; but the University had gained a
| point-it preserved Its dignity and its
prerOgative by administering the funds,
holding the reins and debating the curl
culum. The result might have been pre-
dicted without much prophetical inspiFa-
ton. Theory maintained its supremacy
and practice.
The branch schools established, so far
! from intoxicating love and habits of agri-
cultural industry, operated then and now
exactly to the reverse, and they are grad
uating at the Central University any
number OF lawyers, doctors, teachers,
ministers, hOokkeepers, clerks, Office
seekers, editors, story writers, book, in
surance and all other kinds of agents, ETC.,
ETC., etc., but no farmers that we have
yet heard from. Tue reason is, that the
schools were set up and agriculture left
ONt. So far as we know, neither Of the
branches even pretends to teach sgricul-
| ture, though il is notorious that the very
object of their creation was to instruct
| the youth of the State in the principles
! and knowledge OF practical agriculture.
A central school was too costly for q vast
majority, and we'll do we remember how
| we plead, threatened and "bulldOZed' the
| Legislature all we could in behalf OF the
! "hOrny-handed sons of tot" whose means
would never permit them, with white
gloves and standing collars. to enter
! gracefully the time-hOnored portals Of
the great central Mecca Of educated GeOr-
/ gians.
! Free tuition awaited a goOdly number,
once established on that ''classIc" ground,
! but how were the poor fellows to 60 or
remain there without meanss The REM
| edy was in the branch schools. Here
/ there would be no social Ostracism and
| the boys cOald come from the "back-
wOods"-could build 4 board sbanty if
necessary, after the fashion of the good
| old camp meeting Methodists-could
"mess" together and live upon "hsme
TatiOns," where the ambitious old people
| could come TO see and encourage them.
! In fact, the idea runs back TO more primi-
tive times which, perhaps, in the estima-
/ ton of old colleges and universities was
retrOgrade and opposed TO progress; but
the people did not think so and were will
ling even to have the boys "carry out" if,
by 80 doing, they could but gain educa-
ton and learn to till the soil iHtelligently.
But this is growing on our space and we
must finish the practical part next week.