Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-09-27
TEACH Agriculture H
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
state superintendent OF Public In-
ssruction Tell of Demand for
knowledge of Farming.
WHITES TO COUNTY RoARD.

This circular has been sent to county
school superintendents by the state depart
ment Of public Instruction.:
stIn every section Of the state there is
growing appreciation Of the possibili-
ties Of agriculture and a corre-
spending demand for a better and mere
general knowledge of its elements. The
tendency OF the instruction given Our rural
youth in the past has been to wean them
from rural life. The time has come to
make this instruction of such a character
that is will put them in closer, broader and
more intelligent touch with their environ
ment and cause the rural school to become
a more practical force.
ssFrom.syou, who haYe the care and over
sight of our rural schools, should come the
initiative in meeting this new demand. We
now ask you to cooperate with us IN max
ing the education of our rural youth more
rational and mora in harmony with rural
interests and occupations The discussions
on school Yards and school gardens issued
from this departments were intended to
stimulate proper interest and pride In
home as we'll as school environments, and to
lead up to the consideration OF other mat
ters of more practical character.
ssKindly prepare, as though designed to
be incorporated with the course of study
now in use in the rural and village schools
under your supervision, an outline OF
course that will embody the elements OF
agriculture as related to the conditions OF
soil and climate, and of supply and de-
mand in your county. We are impelled TO
make this request because these conditions
are best known to you, and because sucn
report from each of the twenty-one conn-
ties will furnish special committee OF our
High Teachers Association the information
needed to prepare suggestive course IN
elementary agriculture that will prove
sufficiently comprehensive for general use.
Although New Jersey is a small state, 1t
n ,ssesses varied conditions Of soil and oil
mate. A course especially adapted TO the
heavier soils and more extensive farming
onerations of middle and Nor hern counties
az The state would not be suited to the
sandy soils Of our southern countiess
/ Possibly the objection at once occurs to
Won that our teachers have not a scientific
and practical knowledge of agriculture and
are not qualified to carry course OF study
! on this subject into successful operation.
This is true and will continue to be true
until the requirement is made and the task
| is set. Necessity will, in this as IN other
lines Of action, prove most potent ineen-
tive to effort. When we shall take as adj
| yanced stand in regard to this form OF in
dustrial education as has been taken IN
MANY other states, and courses of study
! shall have been formulated and published,
works on agriculture will quickly find
place in our school and pedagogical libra
ries. and teachers will discover new and
| fascinating fields Of investigation and she
numerous summer schools will suddenly
receive an appreciative and largely increas-
ed patronage Furthermore, as result Of
recent legislation our rural teachers should
| a year hence begin to experience something
1 of the encouragement and enthusiasm that
comes from receiving proper compensation
and be in a position to bear without hard
| ship the expense of the special preparation
required.
| MANY of us have been wont to deplore
/ the lack Of educational interest manifested
! in many of our country districts. Il now
occurs to me that we have been culpably
slow in discovering the surest means OF
stimulating is. A course Of training that
will increase their childrel's productive ca
pacity better fit them for earning liyell-
hood, open up to them the esthetic and
material possibilities Of farm life and sug-
gest to them the'graces and utilities OF ruiat
home making, will certainly appeal to our
rural patrons.
II believe that the subject Of this circular
| is one OF vital Importance in New Jersey
education, and that it should be fully dis
cussed at meeting OF county and city
superintendents 10 be held during the year.
AS early response as practicable VIII De
greatly appreciated.
T