The Monticellonian., 1908-09-10
Agriculture in tire Public Schools.


Professor A. Minear OF Fort
Stockton. rexas. in National co.
operator, says.
School gardening is presented with
the elements of pefRianency inherited
IN itse1f. for Europe mas over hun.
dred thousand school gardens today,
which nave become a feature of the
educational field
In Cleveland and Dayton. Ohio, in
Philadelphia and Kansas City. it has
raised adjoining real estate, and in
the city of san Antonio. Texas. it
has raised the value OF lots where
children worked with the soil and
growing plauts
This work is comparatively new TO
Texas. but ii is not. however, in an
experimental stage for in the District
of Columbia. Connecticut, New York
and other states it has been conduct.
ed with various results.
On the other hand. there are many
educators who look upon this work as
a fad. but they are stimulated by po-
litical movements. which will event
ually fade away.
Agriculture in a broad sense is the
primary basis of wealth in this coun-
try. and we should do all in our power
TO bring early to the mind of the
child facts which will point out the
necessity and importance OF such
work conducted on a systematic and
scientific basis.
II is we'll known by all who have
the opportunity of being connected
with the public schools, that The pub.
lie school education causes us to for
get our relationship to the soil and
points to the farmer as being man
without a future To allow such to
continue is sad mistake and will no
doubt injure the child.
The work in a city may be entirely
different from what it should be in
rural district. In the city the main
ideas should be to combine moral and
physical training. 10 throw off the
class room restraints and 10 give the
child an opportunity 10 stretch its
limbs. To accomplish such, il should
be done through soEe form of manual
training. and there is no form better
than the school garden.
In the rural districts the point of
mon methods used at home The
mental strain does not exist in these
schools as in the city. because the
average country boy brings about the
equilibrium between the mental and
physical functions, therefore it would
be wise to teach an elementary prin-
ciple of agriculture in such schools.
and have garden where it could be
conducted in manner which would
eventually effect the industrial devel-
opment of this state.
No attempt heretofore has been
made to present the methods for this
state in written form and | hope
these chapters will help lead the way
to better things Conditions existing
at San Antonio. Texas. have been
constantly kept in mind in preparing
this work; therefore, what is said
will vary according to the locality.
The community system of garden
ing is where the children take care of
the garden in general This system
does not strongly develop the idea of
individual responsibility, and boy
has a tendency TO care little for the
plants which others have shared in
producing. This brings about lack
of interest and many boys will shirk
responsibility.
The individual system is where
each boy possesses a small plot of
ground Tor a garden Each boy per
forms every operation of preparation,
planting and general care OF the
plants grown in his garden. This
system furnishes basis of valuable
knowledge and is superior to any
system yet tested.