The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1908-12-31
HORTICULTURE N
COUNTY SCHOOLS
ABLE PAPER READ AT HORTI-
CULTURAL MEETING BY F.. C.
LEMON, PRINCIPAL OF We
NATCHEE HIGH SCHOOL.

meeting Of Chelan County Horticul-
tural Association, Tuesday, was that |
of fitting the young men ana women
OF this community for practical hor
ticultural work. Principal F. c.
Lemon, of the Wenatchee High !
School, had the following able "a |
per, dealing with this subject:
In. dealing with education an ade-
quate conception can be gained only
after making an examination of the
industrial organization of the COM
munity. This is owing to the now
generally recognized fact that sys-
TENS of education are outgrowths of
and dependent upon the economic
environment in which they originate
and develop. The educational, like
the political, institution may be des-
ignated a suIerstructure, in that it
has at all times reflected and been
a product of the particular economic
conditions existing in given social
stage, being shaped to meet the de-
mands of the industrial and CONNER
cial organizations of the community.
This Interpretation of the plan in So
ciety occupied by the educational in
situations puts the source of all i'm
provement and development of edu-
cation in the industrial life. While
mi IC
the basic factor in determining the
curriculum of the schools it exerts
an influence in yet another direction.
Through the financial support which
it affords or withholds, it is the
source of existence of the educational
system. Upon the sum appropriated
from the social income for educa-
tional purposes depend the number
and equipment of the school build
ings, the efficiency of the teaching
force, and the length of the school
year. In other words, it determines
both the quality and quantity of edu-
cation.
This brings us to the question,
What should be the relation of our
school system to horticulture? In A
community like Wenatchee, where
the vital questions are, How shall
we prune? How shall we fight the
pests, and How shall we determine
what shall be the proper method of
applying water to the best advan-
tage? it seems but just that the edu-
cational system should stimulate the
youth in the search for the proper
solution of these practical problems.
The introduction of manual train
ing into the high schools has been
a step in the right direction. 1t is
an attempt to teach the boy or girl
something practical; but to my way
of thinking, horticulture in this COM
munity is of as great Importance, II
not greater. Make the interest OF
the boy or girl identical with the
interest of the community. And this
can be done only by practical meth
DDS, and this can be done only by
introducing a practical horticultural
course in our high schools. course
identical with our classical and SCI
entific course, and one that WILL be
accepted as entrance credits at the
state college, to their more advanced
horticultural course In this way
we may stimulate and encourage the
youth to choose work that will equip
him to advance the common interests
of the community.
Another question of Importance to
a fruit district, the question OF pack
ing. And why not allow the schools
to assist in the solution of this prob
lem? Would it not be possible to
introduce into our educational sys-
tenn a packing school? While discus
sing these questions with the depart
ment at Pullman, he suggested a
plan to me that seemed possible. His
plan was to give a short course in
the fall, open to all the students.
Make a department out Of it, and
put an expert packer at the head OF
the department, the ranchers to CO.
operate with the department, and
when a boy or girl became proficient
in packing they were to receive a
certificate from the school, and all
pc, sons holding these certificates to
receive from fifty cents to a dollar
more than the average packer. In
this manner premium would be put
upon efficiency. This man estimated
that in valley the size Of Wenat-
chez, $4,000 would be saved an
nually, or possibly Sufficient income
to support the schools.
OF late years our educational sys'