The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-22
Agriculture in Common Schools.

The Journal of Agriculture says: 1.-THE
study of agriculture in the common schools
is receiving the attention of many of the
thinking men and women all over this
country. The faculties of some of the
agricultural colleges have taken up the
discussion. Half the population of the
United States live in the rural districts.
Why not give them all a chance to learn
some of the principles underlying their
avocation?". All of this is truly and wise
ly said, and the agricultural press and
farmers institutes may as well prepare to
discuss the matter, for the subject win be
before the people until it is settled, and
settled rightly, by giving the farm youth
opportunities ito learn some of the prin-
ciples underlying their avocation." Unless
they get a start in the right direc-
ton while at the district schools, as a rule
they will be like their fathers-rut far
mers Ever since the foundation of this
nation the country schools have ignored
the very name of agriculture and nation
of poor farmers Is the result. Is it not
high time to remedy this glaring defect In
the instruction of farm youth?
The most ardent friends of this move
ment do not propose to add to the country
course in agriculture. They would only
give the pupils start in few of the first
and most useful principles of scientific,
practical agriculture, such as they could
apply at once and see the benefits arising
from their applications; this to give them
the desire to go further. Then when their
common school days terminate, they will
certainly continue their Investigations by
gathering about them agricultural books
and papers and studying their contents.
Better farming results will be in evidence
a. once. All agricultural papers are clam
oring for more subscribers, and nearly all
the agricultural colleges are lamenting the
dearth of students Before either can be
supplied in such numbers as they should
be, must not people be taught the need of
these facilities? And il they are not taught
this need when attending the common
schools, nine out Of ten will never know it,
but will follow in the footsteps of their
fathers and be "slipshod" farmers
/ cannot understand why an agricultu-
raj paper. or the authorities of any sg-
ricultural college, can so stand in their
own light as to oppose so benefcent and
reasonable a proposition as the subject
of this paper. An objection that some in
terpose is, that there are not suitable text
books or teachers. To this / will respond
as 1 have shown in the p F. before that
there are suitable text books in print,
and that any one fit to teach a common
school can teach the first principles of
scientific agriculture from them, enough
to give the youth start in the right d.
rection, and which path they will be most
likely to pursue to greater scientific
achievements in agriculture Have l ut
tered even one unreasonable thought?
Several times l have stated that the
study of science alone leads from the
farm, but applied agricultural science
leads to it. The former proposition seems
to be proven by the fact that several pro-
fessors of agriculture oppose introducing
the subject into schools under its proper
name. In conference with a professor
who is also a farmer and an advocate of
agriculture in schools, | expressed sur
prise at such opposition. He replied: 1T
seems rather curious to me, as to you
that such men should hesitate to come
out strongly upon questions which l am
sure they cannot but believe to be of pri-
mary Importance in the development of
our agricultural industry, yet in some
cases can see how they might object on
the ground of expediency, and also because
their training is rather in purely scientific
lines, and that they are not in entire
touch with the farming community" In
other words, their sole devotion has been
to science, and this has had a tendency to
lead them from the farm. On the other
hand, it is noticed that the state secreta-
ries of agriculture who have publicly ex-
pressed their opinions have uniformly an
proved the movement. They are nearer
the mass of people and the farms ana
consequently, know their needs better
The secretaries are in entire touch with
the farming community" as their bust
ness Is almost entirely with active farm
ers. Teach the boy little applied science.
Touch the button" and he VIII do the