Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-27

cultural Department. made a short ad-
dress in which he told of the work which
the government has in hand for the adj
vancement of the work Of the stations as
now in operation.
Elmer Ellsworth Brown. United States
commissioner of education. spoke upon
Some Notes on the Training Of Teach
ers" He referred frequently to the gen.
eral topic of the meeting. Preparation
of Teachers for Agricultural Education.
In opening Commissioner Brown referred
to Senate bill 1892 Ito provide for the
advancement of instruction in agriculture,
manual training and home economies In
the state normal schools of the United
States
This BILL" said Commissioner Brown,
Is one of several which have been intro
duced at this session Of Congress, pro-
viding for national aid to education in
the several states, and particularly for
rational aid regards education in ag-
riculture. home economics and other in
dustrial subjects. The fact that several
bills touching in different ways upon this
subject have been brought before Con-
gress is a clear indication of public in
terest in this matter.
Principle Involved.
1.-The principle involved In the granting
of such aid to the states by the general
government has already found definite
lodgment In the policy Of the national
government. as shown by the appropria-
tions made under the second Morrill, act
of 1880 and the Nelson amendment of
1907. providing for a more complete en-
dowment and support of agricultural and
mechanical colleges. 1t is generally
agreed that the working of this principle,
in its bearing on the support of the land
grant colleges has been extremely bene-
fetal. One indication Of the value Of
mol nm nYNT in iNr1c fhA mt
that they have encouraged rather than
retarded the support of these state insti-
tutions by the several state governments
The information at hand in the bureau
of education shows that in the year 1896
these Immigrant colleges received in the
aggregate - per cent OF their support
| from the national government. Ten years
later in 1905 owing to the increase of
state appropriations this proportion of
their support from federal funds was
year period the congressional grant was
| increased by 10 per cent"
Increase in State Aid.
Continuing Commissioner Brown said
I'm the same time the amount which
| these institutions received from their sew
eral states was increased by about 24O
per cent. Whereas in 1896 twenty-five OF
these institutions received more than one
half of their support from the national
government, in 1906 only fifteen received
more than one-half of their support from
the national government. These figures
| show a wholesome tendency. They would
| seem to indicate that the granting Of
national aid for the promotion of educa-
| ton might safely be extended to other
| classes of institutions. provided it can
| be shown that there is national need
! that these institutions be advanced more
rapidly in their educational efficiency than
| they can be advanced without such ma
| tional aid. The Immigrant colleges were
| intended to meet what was clearly a ma
| tional need. that of institutions in all
| of the states which should promote agri-
cultural improvements by providing the
higher grades of agricultural instruction.
This has been found to be an extreme
ly difficult undertaking. Even with the
encouragement by the first Morrill, act,
1852, the development Of these institutions
was painfully slow. Since the granting
| of an annual appropriation for their bet
| ter support. under the second Morrill, act
their usefulness has been very rapidly ex-
| tended and increased. During the period
| to 1890. however, industrial changes have
gone forward with great rapidity. the
| tendency Of our rural population to grav-
| itate toward the cities has continued, and
| the need of a better Industrial education
for our city populations has been en-
phasized by the increasing severity OF
| world competition. For all of these rea-
| sons the problem Of a better education
of an industrial type, in both country and
city. has steadily become more acute.
| Federal Assistance Needed.
| 1t is extremely doubtful whether these
growing needs can be met in the near
future in a majority of the states unless
the encouragement of federal appropria-
tions be added to the efforts of the states
and of local communities. There is. how.
ever good reason to hope that any ap.
preparations which may be made to this