St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-28
Review of What is Demanded
by the State Agricultural
Interests.
Distinct Statement Of What
the Proposed School Of
Agriculture Offers.
The School to Be Established
on the University Expert
mental Farm.

which two educational questions are
treated, viz: First, How should the
agricultural land grant be administered
SO as to promote the interests for which
it was intended. and second, What kind
of schools are needed by farmers? In
prOnOuncing upon the second OF these
questions, reference is made to an
article written short time before by
fishing of school of agriculture to meet
an immediate practical demand of agrl-
culture. The gentlemen who prepared
the address referred to, condemn the
plan as impracticable and insufficient,
and this in a manner that calls for
reply.
WHAT IS DEMANDED?
That it may be clearly understood
what place the school referred to is in
tended to fill, Twill outline what system
of schools is demanded, as seems to me,
by agricultural interests if this i'm
portant and honorable industry is to be
represented by men of intelligent OBJ
servation and skill, and capable of suS-
tanning themselves in the competitions
of business and industrial life. The
first need, and that above all others, is
good common schools, in which 81 per
cent of their children must get all the
education they will ever get. The i'm
portance of these schools, and of bet
ter support, administration and super
vision of them have urged in every re-
port made to the legislature; and this
not because nothing higher is needed,
but because all should have SO much,
have no less. The next school in adj
uonca ic that of aoa1amip Or
HIGH SCHOOL GRADE.
In our general system of education
this is the school of that middle class OF
business men, merchants, bankers and
many professional men, who in num-
berS, intelligence and practical business
sense are leaders of the masses. and are
able to appreciate and utilize the learn
ing and researches of specialists in their
several departments. The high school
has been called the peoples college be-
cause within the reach OF all, and be-
cause it furnishes so much of what the
intelligent business man wants. Now the
school that is organized in the interest
of agriculture and of this grade L have
called a school of agriculture. The
high school is not sufficient, because
its education is chiefly literary and in
the line of the university, and rather
away from farm life. How these gem
tleman can say that such school as |
have described is uncalled for is beyond
my comprehension.
THE INTERVAL
of training between the common
school and the college of agriculture is
about three years, and in all my &C
guaintance with the school system of
Minnesota have found no way provid
ed for spanning it. With the inferior
preparation giren in most of the COM
mon schools, few of which can enter
their graduates in High school or.
Normal school, 1t is no surprise that but
few have entered the college of agricult-
ure. For this reason l am thoroughly
of the opinion that if farmers boys are
to be advanced in their training, and
kept in sympathy with their calling at
the same time, a school of this academic
grade organized on an agricultural and
manual training basis must be provided.
Let us now see what the proposed school
of agriculture offers.
THE PROPOSED SCHOOL.
First-It is intended for those whose
life and labor are on the farm, boys of
at least fair intelligence, a good com
mon school education, and at least tif-
teen years of age.
Second-The term in which the in
door work in English, scientific, manual
training and the lecture courses are pur-
sued will be from about November to
April: IN, = oo,,,.o,, ,,,;,, ,o ,,o.+,u oh
iective. manual, practical and scientific.
1t will cultivate and strengthen the
taste of students and their powers of
Judgment and observation in the Lines
of agricultural pursuits, and will make
them acquainted with those branches of
science most Immediately allied to their
calling.
Fourth-The course is in three lines:
U Business and Literary, including
English, mathematics, accounts, his
tory, political economy and physical
geography.
subjects will be shOpworh. Chemistry,
Mineralogy, Botany, Animal Physiology
and Natural Philosophy. In this the
student will learn the use and care of
common tools; in the labratory he will
be made familiar with the common ell
ements that enter into food and soils;
he will learn botany by the study of
plants, and learn of animals, their
physiology and their characteristics, by
direct examination with his own hands
and eyes.
~ Lecture Course. This will besus-
tanned by scientific, practical business
men and agriculturists, on Farm Man.
agement, Stock, Soil, Grains and Plants,
Veterinary, etc. This course will bring
to the students in familiar talks the
practical experience of men who have
worked and observed intelligently in
these different lines.
wHERE, ESTABLISHED.
This school is to be established and
conducted on the experimental farm en-
tirely separate from the University in
new building, and well equipped for the
home life and the instruction of the
students in the midst of the
work of the experimental sta
ton, and by distinct faculty.
So much for what is proposed in our
school of agriculture. And now, what
are the reasons upon which the gentle
men so readily dismiss with their con-
demnation this entire matter? / GER
tainly do not wish to weaken the force
of the criticisms of the address by mis-
stating or undertaking them; but if l
read correctly, all that is urged is in
cluded in two objections. The first is
that the school is not college. and only
for boys of fair intelligence. My reply
Is. UlldU IL 10 llOU W bdhC tliC pldCO VI Gll0
college, but to precede and to prepare
those for it who wish to attend the col
lege. 1t is not for those who have only
fair intelligence, as these gentlemen
seem to interpret me as meaning, but for
all who have not less than fair intelli-
gence. Now look over the
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION
included in this school of agriculture,
and see if there is anything very con-
tracted about it. Is not a course like
this all that the multitude of intelligent
and thrifty farmers would ask for or
afford for themselves or their boys? But
let it not be forgotten that the college of
agriculture is not only open, but that it
will be supported by this school, which
will develop the minds of ability and
energy to enter npon the special and ex-
tended lines of scientific study, not to