The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-05-19

I Educational Column
MYRTLE b. FARMER Editor I
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Educational Column Z
MYRTLE II. FARMER Editor
For some time the railroads have
seemed to take great interest in the
farmer. Their motives do not seem
entirely selfish; they have become
entirely convinced that there is an
enormous waste of energy in farm
ing, and that if this energy we're
scientifically directed they, as a
riers OF freight, would carry tons
where they nov carry hundred
weight. They are 80 sure that their
calculations are correct that at
great expense they fit out special
trains and send them over the lines
to instruct the farmers in scientific
farming. These railroads will be
amply repaid for thei, expense in
the increased tonnage they will
haul as a result of better crops.
! We cannot but feel that this enter.
prise of the railroads is a rebuke to
our educators. Is not this a sharp
hint that the. school system has not
been awake TO its possibilities in
not providing instruction in Ele-
mentary Agriculture in the rural.
schools: We should awake to the
situation and give the boys and
girls instruction in that which lies
nearest to them.
Our pupils in the country schools
do not receive instruction IN that
which really touches their lives.
The authentic deals with interest,
discount, stocks and bonds etc. in
stead of dealing with the problems
of the farmer. The geography is
largely imaginary journeys and
map questions instead of telling
about soils and products of agri-
culture. The whole program has a
strong tendency to make one dissat-
istied with country life and long for
the time when employment could
be secured in the city. To the aver
age country boy a five dollar a
week clerkship is worth more than
the productions of a whole section
of land. Our boys and girls do not
realize there is a science in agricul-
ture and home making and that
farming is one of the noblest pro-
fessions there is. The boy has
heard the name "hayseed" applied
to the farmer and his education has
all been upon topics foreign to the
farm 80 in his pride he decides he
will make his work in the city.
When we come to realize what the
pupils really get we can readily
see why teachers wages are so low
Possibly the greatest need of the
schools is a thorough course in the
principles of agriculture adapted
to the soil and climate of the local.
ity. The work must necessarily be
elementary hut not too elementary
or it will fall short of its purpose
and serve only to disgust the pupil
instead of leading his to a desire tc
make the most and best of the op
| PO1luI11GS. "A IVY yCdl COulSC IL
agriculture, 1 believe, could be gi
ven in our schools beginning with
the seventh grade. 1 believe this
would go a long way toward solv
ing the problem of how to keep the
older boys and girls i'll school.
Someone will probably say there
is nc room in the program orcourse
of study; that the course of study is
too crowded now. Why not crowc
, out some of it. The average pupi
, has not 80 much need for the met
rio system, longitude and time
banking, etc. He might omit some
of the drawing, which has nevel
beep a success in the schools O
Brule County at least, for the sake
of the subject which most nearly
concerns mis- welfare.
If such topics as soil, rotation O
crops, soil fertilizing, soil economy
: selecting seed, destruction of weeds
insect friends, insect enemies. ami
NAL friends, and animal enemie.
/. were made familiar to the chile
: there would be little need of ccrtifi
Gates of attendance to stimulate
I desire for perfect attendance. Thi
would go far toward consolidating
the schools for the parent would
want his child to have the advant
age of advanced instructing alon:
these lines. The introduction O
agriculture cannot be done sudden
ly or radically but must be dom
gradually that the teachers ma,
adjust themselves to the new re
quirements. 1t is the desire OF tn
Superintendent to interest the boy
and girls in our county in thi
n work by a series of contests befweel
schools and we hope to awaken TIL
: possibilities of our schools in thi
S most practical work.
For o e rsixty Years