The Glenwood post., 1908-02-01
School Pupils Should Receive
instruction In Agriculture,
He Declares
MUCH Time IS WASTED

Eugene Grubb, the well known
farmer of Carbondale, whose
theories carry weight because
they are backed up by his own eN-
perience, sees danger ahead un-
less the young folks are taught
scientific agriculture i'll the school.
Writing on the subject of "The
Fault With our Schools in the
Field and Farm, Mr. Grub says:
"Unless farming is conducted
on scientific principles in the near
future the agricultural districts
will be unable to supply the de
mand for the sustenance of life
and the people of these United
States will be reduced to the same
deplorable conditions as now
mark the peasantry of England
and other European countries,
The adoption of scientific methods
in tilling the soil. however, will
avert this threatened catastrophe.
A public school education that
does not fit the boys and girls to
meet successfully the problems
before them is il failure and an
education that does not prepare
them to be sclf-supporting should
he made so.
''Our rural schools spend about
eight or nine years on the school
arts with bit of geography and
United States history thrown in
and the pupil is left without a
permanent interest in life. and
what is worse. with little inclina
tion to acquire such interest by
further study. The continuance
of the human race depends upon
the successful pursuit Of agricul-
ture and from an economic stand
point the farmer Of the future
lmust be more intelligent and bet
ter informed than his predeces-
sors if he is to compete with other
callings and secure an adequate
return for his labor and capital.
'He must understand soil cul-
turc. what crops are best for his
locality. how to improve the breed
of his stock, how to care for It's
health, and how to prevent and
treat disease in his stock. lie
must know how to prevent ray
ages on plant and animals by dis
ease and insects. Within fifty
wears we will have 300,0OO,0O0
people in the United States at the
present rate of immigration ana
birth rate and within twenty
wears all available farming land
will be occupied.
Soils Depleted.
"The present day methods of
robbing the soil and our lack Of
knowledge of the science of farm
ing have depleted our soils to such
a degree that the production of
wheat has decreased fifty per cent
in forty year, in the producing
wheat belt of the United States,
England on the other hand has
increased her wheat yield 100 per
cent in the same length of time
by the building up of soil fer
, tility. All this requires early
training to secure preparation for
buccessful farm practice. To
bring about these most useful
ends we must have teachers train
ed in agricultural science. me-
chonical arts and domestic econ
Omy
every little while people
gr,mble about our educational
system. No one doubts that it is
full of faults; that children do not
learn as much as they should con
sidering the time spent in school.
But in the end nothing is done.
The trouble is our schools are con
trolled by theorists; by teachers
The course of study is the course
teachers are expected to take and
it does not fit the average boy or
girl who expects to spend few
wears in school and then complete
their education in the school of
experience. Two-thirds of a pu-
pil' s time in school is wasted-de-
voted to studies of no value I'M
less the pupil expects to become
a teacher. The only relief can
see is bringing the preceptors
closer to the calling of the SOIL
-->---