Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-03-06

- the .Tufal SCHOOLS IL IudC IAo NodCA-
ers lack sufficient training toaccom-
plish practical results. For this
treason the work has been a failure
in the rural schools Of France, Rus
STA, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and
canada. In these same countries the
work in school above the elementary
has been a success.
To overcome this difficulty Secre-
tary Will on says:ssThe teach srss hould
have facilities to learn along these
lines at the expense Of the state. The
faculties Of the agricultural college
of the state is the repository of this
information, and the teachers should
have their expenses paid while
they are becoming possessed Of it."
Canada has taken up the work Of
educating her teachers by grouping
the schools and sending instructors to
each group.
The British government is try
ing to do something along the same
lines. Alabama gives 81, 500 annually
to support a school of agriculture in
leach congressional district in the.
state, with a view to making them
feeders for their own agriculture
college. Missouri University is paw
ing the way for the introduction
of the elements of agriculture sci
ence into the common and secondary
schools of the state by holding a
summer school for the education of
the teachers of these schools. WIS
consin has taken the lead in the or
%ganization of short courses that will,
no doubt, become feeders Of the sgri-
cultural college. In that state coun-
ty schools of agriculture and domes-
tic economy are being founded.
They have a two years course,
(which may grow into a larger course
to meet the needs Of the
fboys and girls from the farm.
These schools undertake three lines
of work; first, the elements Of agri-
culture, including the study of soils,
relations Of crops to soils and similar
practical topics; second, the study Of
fplant life on the farm, from the
economic as we'll as the scientific
standpoint, beginning with the seed
and continuing it's care UP to mar
keting the product. The same
course is pursued with regard to
animal life. The use of farmers
ftools is also taught; third, such
High School branches of practical
value as may be carried along with
the above. In these schools girls are
taught domestic economy, practically
applied to such home problems as prep
a~ration Of foods, selection and adapt
ton of foods, with the scientific
basis of the same; the ventilation,
lighting and heating Of the home.
Two counties have voted literally for
the erection Of such schools. Similar
schools are found all owe Europe,
adapted to the particular needs Of
various communities.
The University of Illinois has out
lined work in elmentary agriculture
for the rural schools of that state.
The course is very simple, including
such subjects as the kind of chick
ems raised in the district, lists of
vegetables raised in the neighbor.
hood, the baking and boiling Of po-
~.tatoes, garden work, keeping ac-
counts, etc. Such work a be done
in rural schools. A girl of 20, a
student of the State Agricultural
College of Minnesota, began teach
ing in a country school. In addi-
Ition to the regular work she gave lee
lures on plant life; also instruction
in sewing, which the boys wanted
as we'll as the girls. AS a result the
attendance in this school was the
best in it's history, and thanks toit the
teachers wages were riased by the
board without request on the part Of
the teacher. If she had added cook
ing to her subjects, how many homes
she might have affected in that COM
munity!
In N orth Dakota where IS per cont
of the people are engaged directly,
and the remaining Is per cent indi-
rectly, in. farming it Seems as though
we ought to do something more for
agriculture in our schools. Our state
agricultural college in Fargo is doing
splendid work, but it should have
at least one well equipped feeder in
each judicial district. planned after
those in Wisconsin. In addition,
elementary agriculture should be
taught in a simple, interesting way
in our elementary schools. Album
dance of material ought to be found
in nature study, the school garden
and visits to the neighboring farms.
In tho High Schools of the state the
work in elementary agriculture might
pattern after the outline given for
Wisconsin. In closing I will men
ton one more Way in which the