The Washington times., 1907-12-09
RURAL INSTRUCTION
HINNESOTAN' PLAN
Wants Government to Edu-
cate Children of the
Farms.
Be ieVes Nearly Half Million
Teachers viii Soon
Be Needed.

With the backing Of the President and
tho active support OF the Department.
Of Agriculture Representative Davis Of
Minnesota. expects 10 get through Con-
gress TINS winter his bill 70 encourage
agricultural education throughout the
different States. President Roosevelt, in
his speeches and in his recent message.
mas dweIt strongly or the need for such
educational facilities Tor the boys and
S!s!s OF the farms as viii encourage
them 20 remain on the farms. make bet
ter farmers and farm life more attract
i've II is in the pursuit OF this idea
that the Davis bill has been framed.
A great deal Of work has been done
the past summer in behalf of this pro-
posed legislation. AIr Davis has taken
the subject Up with many members Of
Senate and House. Assistant Secretary
Of Agriculture WiIIet N. Hays has vis-
tied q number Of States and has been
10 the Pacific coast IN the interest Of
the Davis oil. finding out. chiefly.
whether the provisions OF the bin were
such as practically 70 meet situations
n the different states.
Provide Federal Money.
The purpose Of the bill is TO provide
FEDERAL money for agricultural high
schools and branch agricultural expe-
riment stations at such schools. and
also 20 provide for Industrial education
in city high schools II is proposed. be
ginning July ]. 1910 to appropriate an
nuaIly 20 each State and Territory and 70
the District Of Columbia a sum %
money equal 70 not more than 10 cents
per capita Of the population. The bill
provides that the money thus appro-
priated be used only CO- distinctive
studies IN agriculture and home eco
n0mics I'm agricultural nigh schools and
for distinctive studies IN mechanic arts
and nome economies in city high
schools. While the primary. purpose OF
the bill IS TO give better training 70 the
boys and girls from the farms IN agrf-
culture and home. economies. Or dou1es-
tic ecounlly. as 10 is often termed. there
IS combined with this the purpose TO
give wider and better opportunities for
Industrial training In the city schools.
Th- 'USh these high schools II Is
thought great numbers OF teachers
would be fitted 20 give instruction IN
aErIcultgr1l education and in industrial
t. training. The agricultural high schools
would be distributed through the States
and Territories so there would be not
. iess than one in every fifteen co-nties.
and not more thar one IN every Eve
counties. except IN The States having
less than five counties Provision is
made for suitable degree Of state CO.
operation in the establishment Of these
schools.
Need 100000 Teachers.
T. Is computed there wiz soon be 30
COO 600 children Fl the United States OF
school age, and that there viii soon be
Is. .o0o 90 pupils in the schools. OF these
100000 win be preparing for country
lifc and 100000 for city Nfe- For these
80 oo0 teachers will be needed. one-thirI
for the country pupils and two-thirds
for the city pupils The belief Of Re-.-
resentatlve Davis and those who stand
with MIN in support OF the bill in cues
ton IS that the only way an ADEQUATE
number Of teachers. properly equipped
20 further agricultural. industrial ana
home education, can he provided IS 70
greatly Increase the efficiency OF ths
, high schools in the cities ard provide
. for corresponding institutions in ths
country, where due attention shall bs
given 20 the training needed for life on
the farm, in the home, and IN the me-
chanfcaI and like industries.