Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-01
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.


Pages OF manuscript have been transfer
red INTO type and published IN the daily
press OF the state during the past six
months crfticfsing favorably or unfavora-
bly, the present public school system OF
Georgia ard suggesting remedies for al
legged existing evils. II the public school
system OF the state needs revision and
development 70 higher standard OF per-
lection, wide and general agitation OF the
subject IS most advisable. because out Of
a multitude Of wisdom problems viii be
solved and necessary reforms enacted into
law.
II must be admitted. however that we
have a fairly good public school system,
and that the state IS placing the oppor-
tuuities for an elementary English educa-
ton within reach Of every child IN the
state. What Georgia does not possess. and
YET that which is most needful after
public school education. is a college devot-
ed 20 the instruction OF our boys In scten-
tifc and practical agriculture. There Is
not now nor has there ever been school
or college IN the state where the farmers
boys OF anybody else's boys could take
course In practical or scientific agriculture
TO prepare them for any department OF the
greatest industry Of the state. II the av-
erage boy on the farm can secure few
years study in the public schools OF his
neighbCrhoOd. learn 20 fairly write and
spell. Il has been the custom TO let his
brain development stop at that and the
success OF his future In the field be large
~ dependent upon physical force The uni
versity and denOminational colleges In the
state furnish magnificent advantages for
those who desire and are able TO enter
professional life. We have the finest tech
biological school in the south for training
young men IN mechanics. textile and en-
cheering branches. Splendidiy equipped
business colleges ere within easy. reach Of
Whnra =rr~far1 Te1 70 Traur EnfNvaa
for the counting room IN all departments
Of mercantile life. banking and railroad
ing. II IS the farmers boy alone who Is
left out 70 pod his way as best he can.
Largely IL educated ard totally. uneouipped
70 make success Of the business IN which
he Is 70 engage. as these boys grow up to
manhood and dig out Of the earth the
fibre which IS TO clothe the world and with
their hands raise the food 20 feed the
world. and with their field products keep
the wheels Of commercial life turning.
their very ignorance viii continue TO make
them an easy prey 90 an avaricious and
designing world with which they have 70
deal These young men. however poorly
educated they may be. present the back
bone Of the government and the founda-
ton upon which must rest the future pros
perity and success Of every avocation IN
every other department Of business.
In all justice and fairness. Is Il right for
the state 20 open fits treasury and furnish
the higher branches OF educational facili-
ties TO every other department Of business
or profession and then say TO the farm
ers' boys. You may learn 70 read and
write. but after that the state will fur
nish no further Advantages
A Crying Need.
have no unjust criticism or censure for
the splendid work OF our university along
the lines Of literary and professional ed
ucation, nor against any OF the other
branch colleges in the state. They are all
doing a noble work. and are engaged in
preparing many OF the young men and
women OF the state for a future which VIII
reflect great credit upon the efforts OF the
teachers in those colleges.
For years efforts have been made to
make useful and attractive the agricul-
tural department Of the State university.
but without success. II win continue 20
be q failure 50 long as we adhere 70 the
present system Classical studies. and the
study OF agriculture viii not mix They are
like oil and water. Either one or the
other must inevitably remain failure
and as agriculture Is but a secondary con-
sideration at the State university Il must
be admitted. without hope for a change
that the teaching Of practical and scien-
tiic agriculture 70 students offending the
State university must always be a failure
What we need and must have in Georgia
A. an agricultural college. pure and sim
pie, where not only the branches OF a
higher English education may be had than
is given IN the public school curriculum,
but where practical and scientific educa-
ton may be had in all the varied branches
Of our industry, including field work
dairying, stock raising. horticulture. vet
Urinary and field engineering.
Such q college for the education OF white
boys in this state should be erected in
close proximity 70 the state experiment