The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-05-31
Missouri Takes Lead Of Other
States in Introduction of
Agricultural Studies.
PLAN ENDORSED BY TEACHERS.
Experiment Made at Columbia
Has Attracted Wide Atten-
ton and System Is Be
ing Adopted Elsewhere.

REPCYrIc SPECIAL
Columbia. Mo-, May Ca weIl-teHnec
movement has been ~inaugurated that lood:
TO the Introduction Of the study Of agrt
culture in the rural public schools OF ths
State. Among those who are especially IN.
terested are Professor E. 3. NuTnford. and
Dean H. j. Waters, Of the Agricultural Col
lege. and Secretary George 3. Ellis of the
State Board Of Agriculture. The movement,
Is Endorsed By ". 7. Darlington. State
Superintendent OF State Public Schools. and
Professor Il II. Jesse of the Missouri State
University.
The desirabiity OF introducing agriculture
In the public schools as a subject OF study
has been advocated for some time. 1t has
been largely discussed among the farmers
of this State. and all who have had any
thing TO do with agricultural work. The
movement has been sanctioned BY the lead
Ing educators as being pedagogically sound.
Six years ago a OF twelve lead
ing educators Of the United States was ap-
pointed by the National Education Associa-
ton. II was to recommend a revision OF
the courses Of study for the rural schools.
Its report. which was adopted. was unan-
imously IN favor of introducing agriculture
as one OF the prominent studies The Uni
versity of Missouri, Immediately took the
matter UP. and WAS the first institution in
America to put the subject on a working
basis.
Teachers Lacking I'm Learning.
According to the authorities OF the State
Agricultural College and Mr.. Ellis. the
greatest need. and at the same time the
greatest drawback in this new line OF work,
is the lack of education on the part of
teachers along this line. To supply this
need the university four years ago com
menced its summer school of agriculture
and horticulture designed mainly for teach
ers Of the State. The interest that is be-
ing taken In the subject Is evidenced by
~ far. .Ia- +haSa rra-fDNanf nf tho uni
versity summer school have had the
largest portion OF the attendance. In fact
at times there have been more students
than could be properly handled. Arrange
ments for this years summer school are
made looking to q larger enrolment than
ever before.
summer school courses in agriculture have
been !naugurated by the State normal
schools of Missouri and agriculture IS
taught in n number Of country public
schools. Circulars are now being gent
throughout the State IN order to ascertain
the number Of country schools now teach
ing this branch.
The Missouri State University Is the only
Institution in America that constantly main
tains 4 course in technical agriculture for
teachers. Many other institutions have
courses In nature study. which includes all
the natural sciences. AS Indicative Of the
work being done a letter was received from
Michigan. stating that he had heard OF the
work being done here. and requesting an
outline Of the same. This was sent TO MIN,
and in a second letter he stated that he
had taken this outline to a conference OF
the professors of the agricultural colleges
and stated to them that Missouri was away
ahead OF all the other States IN the matter
OF teaching agriculture IN public schools.
VIII Continue Nature Studies.
The effort that is now being made in Co
lumbia- and by leaders of the educationa!
movement In Missouri. has for its object
the promotion of the study of agriculture
In every public school in the rural district
of Missouri. These leaders mako n dlstinc-
ton between the nature studies that are
now widely used, and agriculture. The for
rner has TO do with many different branches.
all Of the natural scicTc.s. The
movement that has been inausurated does
not contemplate the adjustment of these
nature studies. The proposed plan IS that
the study of agriculture shall be the basis
of all such work. and that these studies Of
nature shall be brought in only as they
related to the main sUbject-agriculture.
II is claimed that every requirement Of
education supplied Try the nature studies is
also supplied by this study OF agriculture.
1t will store the minds Of the pupils with
valuable Information and knowledge which
can be applied practically in later life and
at the same time IL will develop their pow
Of observation.
The State Board of Agriculture has issued
several bulletins upon this subject already.
II is the intention Of all concerned to prose
this work until the study Of agriculture
shall be one Of the main features in the
courses Of study in every rural public
IS the State Of Missouri.