Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-02-08

Y
n little more OF the Burroughs spirit
b keener appreciation OF Ernest Setor
Thompson or Thoraau, greater de-
sire for the things at hand and you
will have solved TO large extent the
question OF the boy and the farm
Since agriculture has an educational
value, how shall 1t be taught Should
1t be compulsory and have a place on
our daily program II we do this
the time allotted for the recitation
mu-t SO taken from some other branch.
Our course is already crowded. Both
t-acher and pupils find themselves
driven from one task to another. The
branches that give definite informa-
tion and upon which all other work ia
based, must not be neglected. | DO
ieve we should admit subject jest SO
FAR rs lie educational value will permit
believe in the essentials first, those
OF lesser Importance after. Our teach
ers are not prepared to teach agricul.
,ure. They know little about it,
lmag Inc, II you can, Young town girl
attempting her FIRST term OF school ard
handling the subject OF beef, cattle,
dairyine. Ism afraid her reputation
70. wisdom would coon be shattered.
Her Standing In that community mar
red and her future injured.
r., ,,,,. -, T., oha,a 49,, l.,n.. IL
an opportunity thes will make them
st ve- proficient. Schools are neces-
sary for toi. and ~ present we are not
sufficiently equipped. We must have
some place Of training. A place where
our tcachers can get the practical as
well rs the book Knowledge; for in
agriculture the Two go hand In hand &c
in no other branch
l b 'l;tve we can begin our study with
tbs rural school library. Secure the
b s; b '"ts ii cur disposal. Call atten.
ton u A,s value. Encourage. by par
en,s and teacher, tbs reading of these
books Have our teachers devote q few
opening sessions each week to subjects
of special interest. In this way en-
thusiasm may be gradually worked up
and our teacher equipped to teach the
the subject intelligently. Unless we
pursue some gradual system of intro
duc.ion our efforts will cause q vast
waste of time.
n nnpD unA fhon
consin, secondary education in agri-
culture is brought close home to the
farmers by means of county school
of agriculture. This WAS brought
about, largely, through efforts OF Hon.
L. d. Harvey, STATE Supt. BY COM
pairing American educational system
with those OF European countries Mr..
Harvey believed Europe worthy Of
emulation. BE decided to take I'D the
cudgel In behalf Of county schools. 1t
d d no. seem feasible TO introduce the
ubjecs In the rural schools owing to
luck OF experienced teachers. AS the
county high school was not permissible
he presented his cause to the legis-
lature, secured proper enactments,
with 1t fair sized appropriation. BY
the law passed, the state would pay
one third of all running expenses pro-
viding they did not exceed $4,000.
This plan was so successful that the
stale increased its superintendent to
$4,000 Wisconsin has now two we'll
equipped county schools, giving excel
lent instruction In agriculture, manual
training and the science of teaching.
AT Menomonie the school ircludes
agriculture and manual training while
II Wausau course in agriculture and
science OF teaching Ia given.
Taese schools we're nuilt and equipped
at al expense OF from sixteen to
twenty thousand dollars respectively.
Ut might be we'll to say that y consid-
cradle sum was donated by private
parties.) The annual running expense
is about $4,000. OF this amount the
state pays $4,000. Thus we can see
the county has an excellent school
with the total expense OF $4,000. The
taxes in Dunn county have not been
noticebly effected The taxable prop
erty Is ten and one halt million dollars.
Ally person assessed 800 would pay
almost two cents toward the school.
An assessment of $1,000 would increase
he taxation less than twenty cents.
AT glance we can see the annual
cost to individual taxpayers is almost
nothing.
In each school the tuition is free to
all residents OF the county. Those
outside pay $40 per year. The cost of
livlrg for those at Menomonle is about
50 week. but many board themselves
Tor So a week and even less. Since the
school lie located near the centre OF the
county many pupils are able to attend
school with much lees expense as they
receive many things from home.
10 most town [high] schnols certain
requirements are demanded before one
can enter the high school. This is
necessary for the child's welfare. The
requirements for entrance to the
county agricultural school are only
such as will enable him to carry on
his work successfully. Any pupil can
easily gain admission even though he
may not have entirely finished the
rural work. The common branches
are reviewed, giving him business
training specially for his work. ne
would on com pleting his course know
little about Latin or Geometry but
could build n corner cupboard, make
his mother clothes reel or do, reason.
ably we'll, a Job OF blacksmithing.
The school ut Menomonie is steadily
growing in numbers, influence aud
efficiency.
Each year they hold farmers insti
L T. ~ ~ ! a.