Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-07
AGRICULTURAL
SCHOOL READY
INNOVATION TO BE TRIED AT
GARDENA
STUDENTS TO LEARN PRACTICAL
FARMING
Instruction Room to Be Merely an
Adjunct to Out of Doors,
Instead of the
Reverse

when one may learn to swim out of a
book, to dance by correspondence
course, and to farm in a labora ory. 1t
is not astonishing that Squeers method,
involving the BOY wedding the gar
den, but made practical, has become
the educational slogan.
Hereafter the purely traditional Let
me go out and see how high lny bean
is" will have q scientific significance
for youth, far beyond that which the
admirers of the fairy tale Jack ever
dreamed of. and naughty little boys
who hitherto, ingenuously curious, dug
up seeds to see if they had sprouted
will be taught better, in dreadful set
phrases and technical terms--and their
little beans and potatoes will come up
only when called by their scientific
names.
Last year the pupils at Ge4rdena did
some gardening, and it was found they
took to making of scientific mud pies
like a duck to water "The Agricultural
high school is, indeed the Towering
of the fine plant of nature study which
flourishes in the grades, the seed OF
which is planted in the Kindergarten,
said a teacher. "Irspiratton comes to
the pupil by being taught, first hand,
from the vivid book of nature-taught
accurately to see the real object or
the real phenomenon, and to reason
correctly from what he sees"
Course Open to Change
Because of the movement in the
United States being in pioneer stage,
the course of study is a somewhat ten
tative one, and liable to growth and
change There is. literally, no Ameri-
can model on when Los Angeies may
mold her agricultural course. The
theory of foundation, howeyer,-the
viewpoint of the works. largely that
of one of the best authorities in the
world. DR.. Liberty Hyde Bailey, dl-
rector of the New York State College
Of Agriculture, at Cornell university,
who says:
1--WE do not approach the subject pri-
Jnarilv from the occupational point of
view. but from the educational and
spirituaI We need TO be careful not to
Introduce subjects merely because prac-
tical grownup farmers think that the
subjects are useful and should be
taught. What appeals to the man may
not appeal to the child. But the teacher,
as well as the farmer must always be
consulted in respect both to the con-
tent and the method of agricultural
teaching. We must always be alert to
see that the work has living interest to
the pupils-that it does not become
lifeless."
DIR. Moore's theory is. indeed. that
the teaching of this subject should get
away from the textbook drudgery.
From time to time the life Of a curric-
ulum needs quickening, and many edu-
Gators are looking to the study Of agri-
ure to apply a spark of inspiration
e Try subjects, causing a glow which
II attract youth and warm his
it. For instance. in the study OF
iculture dry-as-dust chemistry is
O. related with the study of soils;
er Omology. with it's dreary termin-
el ". is studied i'm connection with liv-
.a growing plants.
Los Angeles Fortunate
os Angeles is fortunate and novel
ong cities. in being able to have
- agricultural high school with its
oratory all out of doors. In many
.Ites. because of lack of space the
.sark is merely theoretical In other
r ces it is necessary that children do
e. ir gardening at home. this being
a7 only kind possible: but this is not
p isfactory as the farther removed
tie gardens. the less direct and vital
INC teaching.
n addition to the regular course the
4 ricultural High school at Gardena,
18th its two acres. is able to present a
novelty i'm the form Of a problem gar
den, in which certain specific questions
are to be studied. affecting California
crops, and this work will develop as
the school develops in efficiency.
The school has big work in view,
ultimately the study Of the structure
and mpOsition of soils. and their re
actions to natural agencies, the work
of tillage the raising and handling of
crops, even the care and feeding Of ami
mails, the marketing of crODs, the dis
eases which infest the California crops
and the use of farm machinery but
these are, for the most part. merely
ideals at present, to be fulfilled at some
future date when tho school shall have
more land at its disposal.
To Break Down Prejudces
Saws DR.. Moore: "The great influence
to be hoped from the agricultural high
school and from all industrial educa-
tiOn. is its influence i'm breaking down
old preiudices, in setting up new and
independent standards of education. in
arousing enthusiasm and devoloning
ways of teaching the common affairs
of life"
Farming in California is n fine art
In the old Spanish days the great men
were its ranchmen with their vast
possessions, and since then wealth has
flowed in for the purchase and develop
ment Of many sorts Of ranches. Con-
sedueutlv the California farmer is
highly thought offs, indeed in many
cases. the typical "gcntleman farmer 80
Because of the variety Of soil. alti-
tude and climate California offers "a
catholic field for the farming industry,
which is an all-year-round pursuit.
Naturally these favorable conditions
lead to demand for agricultural
schools There are manv inquiries at
5hc supcrintendonts Office in regard
to the now agricultural high school,
and much enthusiasm among pupils
and parents. said q gentleman the
other day who called to find out about
the course,-a polished man of the
world he was, one could see-as far
removed as possible from the hobble-
de-hoy tyne NV son is a natural
farmer. We wish him to take course
in agriculture, but we do not wish to
let him 60 away from home just yet,
though in time we shall send him to
college. This agricultural high school
is Just the thing for him"
How much better chance indeed,
there is, for a boy TO lead a sane,
wholesome college life. who has had
sane. wholesome, outdoor education
before he enters!
The Desert May Bloom
With the growth of all lines of
manual training in the schools comes
inevitably the agricultural branch 1t
is not curious, perhapst that it has de-
veloped most slowly of all the branches,
on account of the natural obstacles
lack of outdoor space, of trained
teachers. etc. But the agricultural col