The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-17
STATE BOARD PLANS
! FOR RURAL SCHOOLS
1t Recommends a More Ra-
tionaI and More Practical
Course of Study.
COTTON GIVES HIS VIEWS.
IDLY COMING TO REALIZE THAT
THEIR CHILDREN DESERVE THE
BEST.

Indianapolis, Ind, June IL The
State Board of Education has recon-
mended more rational and more prac-
teal courses of study, including nature
subjects, manual training and the ele-
ments of agricultural and domestic
science, which will prove of especial
benefit to the rural consolidated and
township schools-the schools provid-
ing high school education for the coun-
try children.
State superintendent of Public In
struction Cotton says:
'"The farmers of Indiana are rapidly
coming to realize that their sons and
daughters are entitled to just as thor
ough, practical and complete an educa-
ton In their home schools as the chill
dren of cities and towns. This senti-
ment has often found expression of
late in farmers institutes and farmers
clubs and in resolutions adopted at
the meetings of the State Grange and
at the annual conferences of farmers
institute workers.
There is very gratifying response
I'd tile utIldIlu III DtLitI 0uutdtlolI IcI
the country boys and girls. This is
shown-in the special sessions and con-
tests arranged for the young people
at the farmers institutes. 1t is also
shown in the cordial attitude of many
county superintendent of schools,
township trustees and teachers who
are actively and effectively co-operat-
ing with the county farmers institute
associations in reaching and interest
ing the children of the schools.
Through such cooperation large num-
bers of school children, working I'M
der the direction of the teachers in
several counties have been enlisted in
lines of practical education that will
greatly promote their self-development
and prove of large and enduring ben
eft to agriculture
The Farmers Institute Act.
Regarding one of the important new
laws benefiting the school system, SUI
perintendent Cotton made the follow
ing statement to your correspondent:
"Just at this time when school Of
ficials, teachers and farmers insti-
tute associations are giving attention
to measures for the practical educa-
ton of the country youth, it is par
ticularly fortunte that the recent gen.
eral assembly passed one law of spe-
cial interest to farmers and country
school Children law which will
greatly aid the above mentioned agen-
cies in their efforts to interest the
boys and girls in their own self-im-
provement and which will tend to
make them self-supporting. This will
appear from the following extracts
from the Farmers Institute Act, ap-
proved March 8. 1907:
Section 1. Be 1t enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of In
diana: That in order to promote the
extension of farmers institute work,
to encourage it's better organization,
and to increase the moneys to be e1.
pended in such work, the chairman of
any farmers county institute held I'M
der the regulations adopted by the
superintendent of county institutes in
any county in the state of Indiana,
shall be entitled to draw from the
county treasury of such county sum
of money not exceeding one hundred
($1O0) dollars, to be paid on a war
rant drawn by the county auditor,
which said warrant shall be issued to
such county chairman upon full com
pliance with the terms of this act
Sec. 5. The term expenses as
used in Section Of this act shall be
construed to include any prize or
prizes offered by such county institute
or auxiliary organization to stimulate
competition in experimental work in
agricultural or domestic science re-
search: rewards offered for results of
extraordinary excellence in agriculture
or domestic science domain: or the
necessary cost of cooperative work
of an educational character along the
lines of agricultural. horticultural or
domestic science development. Pro-
vided. that the scheme or plan of such
special work provided for in this sec
ton shall have been adopted by the
county institute at its last annual SEES
sion and that competition shall be
open to every eligible person of that |
particular class residing in such coun- |
ty ="
Scope of Work Enlarged.
Superintendent Cotton added: ct |
thus appears that the state had made |
financial provision for enlarging the |
scope of the farmers institute work |
and Systematically conducting CON |
.ests of various kinds that will prove |
attractive and helpful to the |
Young people. The county farmers /
Institute associations win suggest fea- |
sible lines of competition for school |
children; the school teachers and OF |
acials will interest and enlist the |
school children in these competitive |
exhibits and contests. and the state |
will aid in meeting the expenses in |