Newport weekly independent., 1901-08-16
FARMER ANDP PLANTER.
LAYING A FOUNDATION.
in the Public Schools Can Not be OYerestimated.

Agricultural teaching in the public schools is rot a new thing. It has been in operation for many years in Ger many, France and elsewhere in Eu- rope. It is an innovation that can not be completely accomplished in this country at once. The necessary pre-
 liminary steps have not been taken. First, there are needed text books, competent teachers and experimental grounds. All these will come in time. But shall we lose precious years wait ing for what we need, and refuse to take what we can get? Any compe- tent teacher can, in weeks time, qualify himself to teach the principles of plant growth, plant breeding, crop growing and harvesting, and the economical uses to which agricultural and horticultural products are devot- ed. Any system of education, prepar- atory 0r collegiate, that omits these
 branches is defective. 1t is impossi- ble to conceive such an anomaly as an educated person ignorant of these things. Such knowledge is not only necessary that person may avoid the stigma of gross ignorance. but neces- sary for the very purpose of all school education to broaden the intellect, enabling it to think intelligently on subjects in relation to which action may be required. Such knowledge should be general, not confined to farmers. To withhold such knowl- edge from the prospective lawyer, fN1Iy
 wise as to restrict the study of his tory to those who are to become his tOrians, or mathematics to those who are to be civil engineers, or language to those who are to become leXicOo- raphers. As agriculture is the most important industry of our country,
 tor any other country, for that mat ter) and one that directly concerns every man, woman and child, certain ly knowledge of it's principles should be a part of the life equipment of every child in the country. Farmers and fruit growers are not the only ones requiring such knowledge. Every home owner, in town or country, must plant and grow for sustenance, profit or pleasure, and if he knows how, so much the better. To begin with, the fundamental principles should be taught now, and measures should be taken to prepare text books and teachers competent to teach this branch more thoroughly. It should be taught in every public school, and once introduced, the growth of agri- | cultural education in the public | schools is assured. It is not intended, of course, to make farmers or fruit growers of every pupil, for we will | have lawyers, physicians, teachers, bankers, merchants and many callings we could very well dispense with, and they will all be the better qualified by having a well-grounded knowledge of natures plans and requirements, as set forth in vegetable life. In the course of time we hope to see every public school in possession of an ex- perimental plot, where the lessons of the classroom may be illustrated in | actual practice. The durability and usefulness of every structure depends on it's foundation. The business of all public schools is to lay a foundation | for the superstructure of life and character. The soil and the subsoil, it's physical features and productive powers form the best foundation on which to build a superstructure of fu- ture knowledge and usefulness.-Tex- | as Farm and Ranch.