The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1888-06-23
WHAT IS THE MATTER?
WHY DO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
STUDENTS LEAVE THE FARM?

They study Law or Medicine, or Engage
in Mercantile Plrsuits-Some of tho
Reasons Why They Learn to Dislike
earning.
gentleman who had ;ean invited to de.
liver a commencement address at nh a~ri-
cultural college, i'll wicE Re had once held
Il professors chair, recently told the writer
of this article that he foulG' it impossible to
select subject We sugg, sted several topics
more or less connected wi h farmers nnd
their calling, but the "x-rrcrcssor shook his
head. lit is useless to talk to the Young
mrn about agriculture he said, 1.-THE fact is,
whoa the students leave tho college mono of
them 20 to farming
s''rns our hewildercd look, the ex-profes-
'or went on to say that although the students
Went from the farm to the college and took
an agricultural course, they all left the insti-
tutl"h 10 study law or medicine, or to en-.
gage in mercantile pursuits.
THEY GET HIGH NOTIONS.
vi don't know how it is,H he said, sbut
thcy all get high notions in their heads. and
they think that farming is too slow and un-
profitable to suit them During the whole
time was at the college, l never knew ono
out of the hundreds of students to return to
the farm"
All this was said in u deliberate, matter of
TACT way, and We ut once jumped to the con-
clusion that if our agricultural schools were
simply used TO turn young farmers into law
ycrs, doctors and merchants, there was some
thing wrong somewhere.
If these facts have not been unconsciousiy
"Nerstated, the advocates of agricultural cd
ucaton will very naturally feel inclined to
ask few questions. Are the teachers, as u
rule, men VIII" have fancy for the learned
r"o''~sl"ns' DO the students in their debates
discuss literary and political subjects. Arc
they allowed to devote much time to reading
novels, poetry, history and tho newspapers.
Nm Affirmative answer To these questions
Will explain much that is now mysterious.
THOUGHTS WHICH LEAD AsTRAY.
The young agricultural student who finds
MS professors always talking about great
lawyers, writer's, and successful business
men. will fail into their way of thinking.
Political debates will fire him with the ambi-
il"n to distinguish himself at the bar or in
public life. Too much time devoted to bellies
lcttrcs will make him think of everything in
the world except diversified farming.
But it may hc that none of the points NEIL
TONED can be urged against the agricultural,
schools and their teachers. What, then, is
tn" matter' Do our youngsters naturally
TAX" n dislike to farm life! DO their fathers
tell them that there is 10 money in it and
that the farmers are growing poorer ever,
year:
Th'ir is something in this way of putting
1t. When farmers take Il gloomy hopeless
Vie" of their occupation, they cannot cx-
lcr1 their SONS to look on tho bright side of
things. And yet, in spite of all that can bc
said. the fact remains that tho young and
Industrious farmer who goes to work with
the advantage of u scientific education, has
IT IN his power so make himself happy, i'll
DEPENDENT, prosperous and distinguished
lint, after all, success does not depend so
much upon the education, or the land, as it
toes upon the eman.--Atlanta Constitution.