The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-06
PRACTICAL EDUCATION AND THE MISSION
OF THE A. AND M. COLLEGE.

The recent suggestion that the Chairs
of Agriculture and Horticulture should
be consolidated at the A. and Nj. Col
lege was happily defeated. Instead OF
reducing the teaching force In agricui-
ture and horticulture it should rather
be increased and made more effective.
The great bulk of the people OF North
Carolina have earned their support
nv filling the soil since its first settle
ment and they will continue to do SO
at least during the life of the present
generation. There are radical changes
in agriculture everywhere, particularly
in the South. and it is the first duty
Of the State to educate the youth SO
that they may improve the farms anu
receive the largest return from their
labor and investment. Unless the Agrl-
cultural and Mechanical College does
this it is not serving the seventy per
cent of the population of the State for
whose benefit it was established. Thorn
as jefferson, who knew everything and
whose Judgment was unerrlng, saw the
need of such education as would be
successful in restoring Agriculture to
iIs primary dignity in the eyes of men,
and in 1904 that great farmer wrote:
1.-The class principally defective is that
of Agriculture. 1t is the first in utility,
and ought to be the first in respect. Inc
same artificial means which have been
used to produce a competition in learn
ing may be equally successful in restor-
ing Agriculture to- its primary dignity
in The eyes of men. 1t is science OF
the very first order. 1t counts among
its landmarks the most respectable
Science. such as Chemistry. Natural
Philosophy. Mechanics, Mathematics
generally, Natural History. Botany. I'm
every college and university a profess
sorship of agriculture and the class of
its students might be as the first. Young
men closing their academic education
with this as the crown of all other
sciences, Fascinated with IFS solid
charms, at time when they are To
choose an occupation. instead of crowd
ing other classes, would return to the
farms Of their fathers, their own or
yigorate calling now languishing under
contempt aud oppression. The dharita-
bic schools. instead Of storing their
pupils with lore which the present
state of society does not call for, con-
verified into schools of agriculture might
restore Them to that branch qualified
TO enrich and honor themselves, and
to increase the productions of the nation.
- han a In .ll
abolition of the useless Offices so much
accumulated in all governments might
close this drain also from the labors of
the field and lessen the burdens i'm.
posed on them. BY these and the better
means which will occur to others, the
surcharge of the learned might in time
be drawn off to recruit the laiboIing
claas Of citizens, the sum Of industry
be increased and that of misery dimn-
ished."
The first duty of the trustees Of the
a. and NJ. College is to spend its money
chiefly to teach the best methods OF
farming so that its graduates will be
''qnaliiied to enrich and honor them
selves and to increase the productions
Of the nation"
There is new life in industrial lines
in North Carolina, and the A. and NJ.
College was established to stimulate and
direct the newly awakened industrial
activity of the State. The college must
be made a great school or technology.
Ii it fails here, no matter how greatly
it succeeds in other departments, it
fails to accomplish the end for which
its was established. If the money has
to he borrowed. the trustees ought to
have textile branch in operation be-
fore the new year. 1t is a crying need
and the a. and NJ. College cannot fill its
mission unless it can train young men
TO become experts in the manufacture
Of cotton goods.
After the trustees have made the col
lege strong in it's agricultural and me-
chanical branches, it should then spend
enough money to give a thorough Eng
fish education and practical scientific
instruction, but everything should be
subordinated to the practical education
Of the hand
As nearly as Mr. Dove. president of
the Commercial Travellers Association,
I'll