The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-03-12
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
To Introduce New Study in Public
Schools

'''S Wv IuSottSt III tnt HtdI luluIe vi
his industrial school bill. The numer-
Gus endorsements from the leading
educational men of the United States,
including favorable resolutions from
many educational organizations, farm
ers' associations, State colleges OF
agriculture and mechanic arts. CON-
mercial organizations. boards of trade.
manufacturers organizations and in
dustrial organizations enerally
throughout the country have inspired
the hope that Congress will be induc-
ed to consider favorably the measure
during the present session.
BY appointment Mr.. Davis had an
interview with the President this
morning in which the provisions of
the bill were considered. He was
very much gratiiied to receive from
the President his hearty and full en-
dorsement OF the measure. In this
| interview allusiCn was made to the
Presidents speech at Keokuk in Octo-
ber last, and the President was graft
fled to know that his ideas then ex-
pressed concerning this measure were
receiving such favorable consideration
throughout the entire country. In this
speech the President said
I'VE should strive in every way to
aid in the education of the farmer for
the farm, and should shape our school
system with this end in view: and so
vitally important is this that in my
opinion the federal government s..ould
cooperate with the state governments
70 secure the needed change and i'm.
provement in our schools At present
there is a gap between our primary
schools in country and city which
must be closed and il necessary the
nation must help the State to close
it. Too often our present schools tend
to put altogether too great a premium
upon mere literary education, and
therefore to train away from the farm
and shop. We should reverse this pro-
cess"
Among the hundreds Of indorse-
ments Mr.. Davis has received and to
which the Presidents attention was
called, a letter written by Judge Peter
j. Shields of the Supreme Court OF
California especially attracted the
Presidents attention. He not only ap-
proved of it's contents but urged that
great publicity be given to it as en-
bodying briefly the desirability and me-
cessity of developing education along
industrial lines as embodied in this
bill
The President was much gratified
at the equitable manner in which this
bill distributes technical and indus
trial education among the masses. He
was especially pleased to know that
this bill divides the money about
equally as between agriculture, the
mechanic industries and home max
ing.
Judge Shields letter, written to his
friend, Col. Weinstock, of Sacramento,
California, Is as follows:
November 2, 1907
My Dear Mr.. Weinstock:
| received you letter enclosing a
copy OF the Davis Bill' which / now
re-inclose to you. | was familiar with
the bill from conversation with inter
ested parties but had never seen it
and was glad to get it through you
| regard it as a very good bill; il il
works out well it will prove a great
bill. The only wrong about it would
have to come in its administration,
1t is perfectly sound in it's purpose.
You know that when Federal fund
is provided for State distribution what
scramble there is for it.
This to some extent has been true
of the agricultural college endowment,
although in the long run that has
worked its way out and proved a
really great success. The danger
which | have pointed out however is
very well guarded against in the ''Da-
Wis Biz by requiring the several
States to first provide the grounds,
the farm and the school buildings and
making the payment of the semian-
nual amounts dependent upon the
right use of proceeding sums, and
placing the Secretary of Agriculture
in control of all disbursements.
Rightly enforced the bill is admir-
able. First it provides for technical,
industrial and practical education as
distinguished from the old theory of
educating all alike regardless of his
type of the life he was to lead: of
teaching the boy or girl books alone
that they might thereby acquire the
strength and fiber of mind to later
learn men and things. The character
of education proposed by this bill will
teach the realities OF life direct and in
the process cultivate the mind as we'll
as the old plan. One of the most
fruitful fields of the education of the
future will be nature, the wondrous
world we live in, and of this field
agriculture comprehends it's best fea-
lures. This bill is broader than That
however including mechanics and do
mestic science within it's purposes
am sure that vigorous distribution of
learning in these arts and sciences
can do no harm and will be incalcul-
able good. am not afraid of vulgar
ising the world or making it what is
called "uiilitarian" by teaching all of
the people to know plants and ami
mails; through domestic science to
feed the baby with wholesome food
and the soul with all of the finer
things which are comprehended with
in the limits of real home, or
through the mechanic arts which
train mems bodies to their highest
usefulness and to give expression to
the minds best conceptions. am
not afraid of the fate of country
whose people are given over to breed
ing perfect animals, rearing crops of
best excellence. building good roads
labor saving machinery, automobiles
and railroads, construction of cOnven-
lent houses. furnishing them perfectly
and making real homes of then, to