Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-21

I ana HE congress settled down ~ ttit ''h
sideration Of topics of a more pacihc ma
/ turc.
! Col. ". NJ. Light. dean of the Mime
: sofa agricultural college, was the next
/ TO address the convention His theme
! was. '.'t'he Best Methods to Still Further
I Increase the Usefulness and Practical
! Value Of Agricultural Education
| Ills paper was an exposition OF the
/ modern trend of agricultural education,
and I, recital of the work done at the
| Minnesota school. The point Of special
prominence that was brought out III the
| paper and in the subsequent discussion.
WAS that the youth educated there were
going back to the farm, to put 10 prac-
teal application the lessons they had
learned at school
1t is In this line of practical work that
the Minnesota school Is recognized as ex-
ceiling all others. THE real schools of
agriculture. the graduates of which stick
To the farm or follow callings allied to
productive agriculture" said he in OPEN
ing. are the pioneers and must blaze the
way. They are making presidents and
not following them. Those having worked
along practical lines adapted to the pro-
motion of intelligent head work and skill
fu hand work ON the farm. have won Il
fair measure of success and are confident
that they are on the right track. but as
yet only the first steps have been taken
in the new education. and what posi-
biticS the future may develop can only
be Conicctured. one thing is certain:
leading interest in the country. and any
scheme of education which offers the
young man special training for the farm
ers calling. and at the same time prom
ises to make bigger and broader man of
him. is one to which all who have the
best interests of the country at heart
may well give careful consideration.
The evolution of the now popular idea
OF practical courses of study in schools
has been slow. Half century ago all
school methods Tailed with the idea that
learning was for the few. The modern
idea is to diffuse knowledge and give rich
ana poor equal opportunity for Individual
development and advancement.
This is in such close accord with
American sentiment and theory of Ameii-
can government that 1t only needed TO bt.
proposed to be generally adopted Now
the State has opened all doors from the
district school to the university. on the
theory that ignorance is the enemy Of the
State ard a menace to popular govern
ment. 1t is unfortunate that a radical
revision of school methods did not
quickly follow the swift movement to-
ward popular education. We have con-
tinued to use the old machinery which
was made TO grind out doctors lawyers
and preachers, and our grist has been
what might have been expected-a dis
appointment The city has grown at the
expense Of the country. The brightest
young people have left the farms: the
standard of country living has been low
cred and the professions are so over
crowded that the surplus is burden to
society.
But happily. common sense has been
too strong for old traditions. and il is
now generally admitted, that if education
IS 10 be universal, or even general. it must
nc along practical lines, and that school
is now wisely counted best which best
Its the student for his chosen calling.
and al the same time develops a we'll
rounded character
With Il school of agriculture planned
ana conducted on right lines. the problem
TOW best to extend its influence is great
y simplifed. Without the right kind of
4 Schooi To begin with, no amount of
fort will make its influence grow To be
it must command the respect
and approval of those most Interested in
Is work. The granger has been the
SUBJECT OF many newspaper jokes. but l
ihoW OF no class who are quicker than
Almers to recognize a good thing and
'ertainly none are quicker to see through
sham. "
THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL.
By way of Illustration Col. Light went
somewhat in detail into some phases of
he work of the Minnesota School of
Agriculture. which he cited as a fair en-
'odiment of the modern idea of practical
,ducation. This school was one of the
tfSt 70 adopt the practical course of
tudE ANA practical method of inStrtc-
ion The very foundation of the school
vas laid along practical lines. Its close
lilahce of the experiment station with
ne university. of which it is d depart
nent with the advantage of actual ex-
erlment work of the one hand and the
ne equipment of the university at com
1and were cited as special advantages.
Conditions favorable to the happiness
nj comfort of the students have been
ccured and their physical and moral vel
are are We'll considered.
The course of study aims to supplement
nat the boy already knows and at the
anne time cover thoroughly all lines of
Gricultural work by practical methods of
naching.
There is always one hest way of doing
thins said Col. Light. The aim is to
zach this way and to clinch the lesson
y giving a reason for it; training the
ma OF the student to search for those
principles which i'll the future
III ne htco'd To direct him in the con-
net of independent Investigations In
lc side lines. enough is taught for prac-
cal use; blacksmithing for repairs; car
entry Tor the construction of ordinary
urn buildings: horticulture for the man
cement OF the farm garden: dairying:
1tOmoIosy, so as to be able to distiu-
niSh insect friends and enemies; chem
Try, tn" composition and value of feed
nd soil analysis: botany: in the vetcri-
AIRY class the treating of the common
seaseS Of domestic animals: the Judging
animals and the science of feeding. All
lesc lessons are clinched by actual work
n" student is not only told how to do
iines but is required to do them and
lder the eye of Il careful and intelligent
Col Light paid high tribute to the
Guilty of the institution. whom he char
'terlzcd as enthusiasts who can INSPIRE
cry one around them with something of
'eir own sentiment. He spoke of the ex-
lrSion parties of farmers that have
slted the school during the year
| ne school has proiitcd by the Sugges-
ohS that have been made by the WISH
RS. and its management has been
rengthencd by their expressions o.
aarty approval and promises of cordial
ipport In October the experiment OF
'-education will be entered upon with no
ar OF the result. This new step. Col.
lSSit was confident. would vastly in
ease the influence of the school on the
lung people of the farm and react fay-
ably on the school itself.
EVENING SESSION
The evening session was opened by
rs. Eleanor Nentrice Edwards of Min
'apois. Subject: picturesque or In
nsive Farming"
Her address was drawn from the obser-
ttlonS IN a long residence in China She.
ltlined graphically Chinese manners and
ethods as applied TO tiliage. One branch
American farming that of stock rails
g Is absolutely unknown in China. The
llef product is rice. and each farmer has