The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17
A paper read before the Conference
for Secondary Education In the South
held ut the University Of Virginia,
Nov 20 last, by Prof. W. Lochead,
Macdonald College, St Anne dc Bello.

!: Macdonald College, st. Anne DO Belle
vue, Canada
Mr.. Chairman and Members OF the Con-
ference:-
deem 1t great privilege to attend
this conference and to meet the educa-
tionnl leaders OF the South. Your outlook
Ia 20 hopeful and your energy 80 irre-
sistible that I am rather timid as I rise
to discuss the question that has been
assigned tn mo, agricultural Education
in Secondary Schools" especially as there
are no agricultural high schools in
Canada.
In my Ignorance of many of the grand
educational features that exist In your
land. l felt when | left Montreal that T
had something good to tell you, but
since my arrival In your great South
land have seen Hampton Institute. My
concelt of our educational institutions
has vanished, and | shall return to my
own country d wiser man. Wa have
nothing to compare with Hampton. The
Negro and Indian boys and girls in at
tendance there are getting q better train
Ing for their ll(cwork than the majority
or our boys and girls are getting. The
correlation OF hand and training
Is corried out SO thoroughly there that I
have no words OF criticism whatever to
offer. said to myself this morning,
why need tell you about our methods
when you have Mt your very doors such
All institute az Hampton? At Hampton
you can gather the very best ideas as to
the place agriculture should occupy in
the school, course OF studies.'
have listened with great interest to
the papers and discussions of this Con-
ference called to deliberate on matters
x pertaining to secondary education. have
heard the State superintendent speak
with Intense enrnestness on the best
means OF developing system OF high
schools In their respective States: have
listened carefully to the remnrks OF the
presidents of the State universities OF the
South on the relations OF the higher in
stitutIons OF learning to the high schools:
to the professors OF secondary education
on the scope OF their work; and to Dr..
Knapp and Mr.. Crosby OF tho Depart
mcnt OF Agriculture. Washington. on g
riculture in High Schools, and I am de-
lighted with all have heard. There
remains for mo in this discussion one i'm
portant duty. as I conceive 1t. namely. TO
state our experience with high schools
In Canada. more especially in Ontario.
and to point out the agencies that are
operating to bring about tho establish
ment OF courses In agriculture in oul
high schools, In order chat you may
profit by our experiences. You are anx
ious. and 1t is desirable that you should
mako no false steps or mistakes in this
stat NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. I'D NSeahAis7 PAoSo
IN the South.
I have already stated that We have no
agricultural high schools In Canada
We have. however. in Ontario over 1bG
we'll equipped high schools preparing
Pupils TO become teachers and to enter
tho universities. The majority OF tlies
schools were established about IS years
ago; the teachers are nearly all uniyer'
sty graduates, and all have taken specin
courses in pedagogical methods and prac
tice. For many years We prided our
selves on our excellent system OF higi
schools and the excellent instruction pro
yided the students. for the primary o.
public school course led gradually up L
the high school course and this in turl
to the university. The educational chai
was complete-without a missing link
We boosted that the child from the hum
blest home In the land could, II he 81
desired. pass into the university withou
difficulty, for fees are absent from mos
elementary high schools. Democracy hat
apparently achieved q, great SUCCESS. Th
normal schools for the professional trar
Ing of tenchers were kept full, and tn
university class-rooins overflowed wit
Students sentsup by the high schools.
This was the bright side OF our schoo
system the other side had been over
looked by our educational leaders. TIL
weak link in the chain was the hig
schools There the pupil was practicall
compelled to take either the course TO
teachers or that leading to the university
I'm many city schools commercial course