The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-29
MAKING OF FARM WIVES
EDUCATIONAL WORK IN CONNEC.
TON WITH THE UNIVERSITY
OF MINNESOTA
AS SEEN BY OTHER EYES
Girls Taught the Management of the
Farm and HOme-Every House,
hold Duty Receives It's
Share of Attention.


girls recently appeared in the st. Louis
Globe-Democrat:
1t would seem that the subject Of edu-
cation had received ell the consideration
It required, yet there is a school of
thinkers. rapidly increasing in numbers,
who urge more practical education and
the adoption Of the principle OF learning
by doing" in our educational institutions.
An educational movement has been start
ed in the Northwest that embodies Tie
very principles named. The movement
is unique and unlike any other in the
educational world. The University Of
Minnesota has established a school Of
agriculture and dairy school. The es-
sential relation between the scheme of
education and the future life Of the stu
dent IS the one governing idea in the
conduct of the school, and from its very
start there has been no question of its
success. There is a young ladies' de-
partment which has already proved very
popular and the benefit of its instruction
to young women, who, through force of
circumstances or preference, expect to
lead useful, practical lives is immeasure-
able.
Mrs Virginia c. Mereditch, of Cam
bridge City, Ind, is preceptress of the
girls school. Mrs. Meredith does not in
struct in the academic course, but de-
lIYers two lectures a week upon subjects
OF special and peculiar interest to girls.
This girls school is a secondary school,
run In connection with the agricultural
college proper 1t is a school where every
lesson is taught by example The text
book Is not eliminated, but the lessons
taught therein are every one Illustrated
Iege work rooms or out in the open fields
Every step taken in the young Woman's
education is toward an actual goal She
Is at no time separated from her most
probable future, when she Will be called
upon TO superintend a home of her own:
Every household duty receives its share
or attention, and a broad foundation is
laid Tor the important household arts
upon which experience can build surely
and strongly. In this new scheme of
educaJon for girls the idea Is given spe-
clal prominence that the home merits
Woman's best endeavor and every branch
Of household are is not only studied, but
actually practiced with real accessories.
In order to establish an intelligent basis
upon which to begin instruction, it is nee
essary to adopt an ideal home and pattern
after that model. 1t is an undoubted fact
that the idea of home finds it's best ex-
preston in the farm home, and the course
OF instruction was arranged with refer
ence to the successful organization and
maintenance Of such a home. Another
reason for the adoption Of the farm home
as model is the fact that the future Of
the girl reared on farm is not so specu-
lative as Is that Of almost any other. In
this country the smiles and froWns of
fortune mean much to the existence of
the members of a household. but the girls
on a farm will in all probability continue
to live on the farm. This reasonable GER
tainty furnishes sufficient cause for max
ing the farm home the basis for instruc-
ton. The family life on the farm is
closely related to the business of the
farm. In order to be entirely successful
the two must be responsive. The recogni-
ton of this apparently not too generally
accepted truth prompted the movement
for COeducation in the school Of agricul
ture and naturally suggested the course
Of study to be followed by the young
women students.
This new idea of practical education OF
girls contemplates the requirement Of
enough instruction relating to soil, plant
growth and animal life TO enable her to
understand to a degree the marvel Of ma
lures partnership in the farm. She is
given the opportunity to learn about crops
and stock and the refining processes
which convert the raw material Of the
soil into the finished forms Of butter,
meat, milk etc. She thereby acquires a
sympathy for the farmer In mis- strenuous
efforts to work with or his patient per-
Bistence in working against nature. She
acquires the inestimable quality Of SYM
pathetic intelligence which is a bond that
gives radiance to family life on the farm.
By nature and long course of actual
experience, Mrs. Meredith Is fitted for
the office Of preceptress in such school.
She caused the introduction into the cur
riculum for girls the fortunate combina-
ton of the practical science Of living with
the harmonizing essentials of culture. The
course of study Is laid out for the stu
dents within which they must apply their
energies, but the privilege of selecting
related branches is extended. Especial
emphasis is laid upon the scientific side
Of farm operations All of the girls who
have been under Mrs. Merediths charge
are from the farm. No others could gain
1t is intensely practical, and already
crowded with students who desire to APP
ply the instruction gained in the making
Of a livelihood.
The subject of cooking IS treated COM
prehensively. The chemistry of heat is
investigated and the manner in which
various articles Of food may be best pre-
pared. The kitchen in the school is not
lifted with immense ranges. with electric
and steam heat, but several ranges and
cook stoves are disposed about the large
room, and individuals are trained in the
actual preparation of the food. The in
struction does not end with lecture and
demonstration by an expert, followed by
a general tasting and praising, but the
actual work Is done by the students. I'M
der the direction Of the instructor. Many
questions arise in this department of
unique interest. Why the fire burns
brightly the effect of cooking upon the
digestibility Of food; the relation of taste
and nourishment. The why of everything
is Illustrated. While the purpose of the
school is essentially practical, 1t Is not
considered impractical to discover to the
mind of the pupil that the beautiful Is
an available asset Landscape gardening
IS taught, and the practical truth empha-
sized that farm house with beautiful
surroundings will bring higher price
than the same place without embellish-
ments.
A thorough course in botany Is given
and horticulture, grating and plant prop
agation are actually illustrated in the
greenhouses. The students are instruct
ed In the selecting and planting of seeds
and the cultivation of plants. Germina-
ton is watched through all Of its stages
and the necessity Of polniization demon.
strated. Artificial polinization Is effecte5
in the plants under glass, the necessity
for so doing being explained by the ab.
senee of bees and other insects mans
yoke fellows in the scheme for existence
All science is taught with the view to 1t:
practical application in the affairs of the
farm, the idea being at all times advanced
that the information should be stored III
10 f,tA,y aKa