The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-08
ELEMENTARY AaR1CULTURE.

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ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE.
Taught in Public schools Of State
Successfully.
"A Wyndmere farmer has the follow
ing to say on the teaching of element
airy agriculture in the public school:
The question Of teaching elemntary
agriculture In the public schools is
being very strongly agitated at the
present time not only in our own state
but In several Of our eastern states as
we'll. That this work will eventually
be taken up in general and installed
as part of the compulsory education
In our state course of study, is only a
matter Of time.
That q course In elementary agri-
culture has been installed In one of
our public schools and successfully
worked out In all its details may be q
surprise at this early stage Of the agi-
tation, but It has been accomplished
and at that in one Of the newest
schools Of the state, the Earl public
school Of Wyndmere.
"A year ago Principal Fredericton be-
lieved he could undertake the task Of
teaching this comparatively unknown
subject and the success that has met
his efforts has exceeded his fondest
hopes.
Attention was first called to the
work at the recent farmers institute
held In Wyndmere. when Oscar Brat
ten Of the ninth grade read paper
before the assembled farmers and in
structors. 81
He had chosen Corn for his subject
and the mastery manner In which he
handled the subject brought forth
much applause and fcongratulation
from all. Professor Churchill of the
A. c., and Conductor Hoverstad both
declared it was one of the best papers
it had been their good fortune to hear.
Mr.. Churchill especially was very pro-
fuse in his congratulations.
The writer was present and being
much interested sought out Professor
Fredericsen and learned the methods
used in pursuing this work. Il.
The subject is taken up in the 7th,
9Th and 9th grades and taught the
same as any other work, regular les
sons being assigned from day to day,
covering every phase of the certain
subject. Practical experiments are
carried on constantly, one aim being
TO prove all the results. One peculiar
fact of the teaching is careful inves-
tigation to show in everything the
parts of which 1t is composed.
After certain subject has been
thoroughly studied, a test examination
is held and the papers are sent to J.
@. Mcdowell, Professor Of Agronomy
at the North Dakota Agricultural COL
lege, for marking and correction. It
is notable fact that the vast majority
OF these papers are graded above 30
per cent and that out Of the twenty
one students doing the work eight
have averaged better than IS, while
two have averaged 90 2-3. This shows
the high order Of the work being ac-
tomplished. The fact that the papers
are submitted to the A. c. spurs the
students to higher efforts and the riv-
airy lis keen. The students are en-
Outraged to bring different samples of
grains. grasses, weeds, ETC., and all are
carefully classified and arranged for
reference. Samples Of all kinds are
received weekly from the A. c. and
used in the daily lessons. A series of
twenty exercises, independent of reg
+ ular study is given during the year.
These exercises serve the. purpose OF
utility more than discipline. They
suggest the numerous exercises
which may be easily carried out at
home. They consist Of showing the
presence OF albumen in milk, carbon.
In sugar. food stored III seeds, capilar-
ity in soils. crossing corn, grating,
churning. damaging effects of tar
paper on fruit trees. This method Is
used to determine whether or not the
future education OF the child should be
in this field. .s@
Mr.. Fredertcsep 10 to be congratu-
lated. He is the pioneer in this work
for our state and we need more like
E him. more teachers with his push and
ability for executive work. Now more
than ever the state neds teachers who
can impart the rudiments OF element.
any Agriculture to pupils; teachers
who can grasp rural conditions and
use them to improve the schools and
educate the people; teachers who can
lead the children to become lovers OF
nature: teachers who have some
knowledge Of farm practice. farm me-
chanics and domestic science and econ
somy: teachers who Enow and can LEAD
others to know the life and work Of
/ Alcott, Wood. Howe and Burbank.
u Piercss BsllHick. Y
Grafton Record: One 81 our town
gentlemen when through smoking put
his fumidgator into hil packet. Soon
after he was .setsed With = glow OF
heat around HIS heart md Immediately
q cloud Of smoke ana nrs broke ont
|Fol his oysrcoat Ias young man quick
| " stacked his clot Ne and appeared
80 snsh nEhting attitude 5that the
sishAl man cana dow rom NJ elass
house TO chow fair plays INT discov-
Ting the cause of Tho trouble only lent
q hapd a sxtihgsiah ~ asnas ~
An ensineef declarso TIT 10000
| people npw do with MAD insry ths
work d -. 800, 400 psr.pns = IN years
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