The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-02-20
SCHOOLS Of AGRICULTURE
state Superintendent Harris Says They
Are the Type of Schools the Country
should Haye-Pupils will
Emerge Edneated Men.

By supt II. q. Harris, in Feb'ry School Review.
Supt. G. ]. Brown, of Ascension, IS
working upon the idea OF converting
one of his best consolidated country
schools into an agricultural school.
The school is surrounded by small
farms and is attended by farmers
boys and girls, some of them coming
as many as six miles to reach the
school.
The plan contemplates demon
stration farm OF 10 acres or more as a |
part of the school plan. On this farm /
will be cultivated the crops that are
best adapted to the soil and condl- |
lions of that community. The boys
will learn by actual experience how TO
fertilize the soil, the most profitable
crops to raise, the best methods OF
-cultivating the soil, the selection OF
seed, the breeding and care OF cattle,
hogs. poultry, etc; in short, they Will
learn farming along approved selehtl-
fie lines. The school curriculum VIII
be based largely upon the farm idea,
SO til at the boy who gets the beneht o.
this school will become educated IN the
princioles underlying the work that
he does out on the demonstr alton farm,
in the dairy, etc. He will not only
know the how as to farm work. but ne
will know the Why-he will emerge
fromtth school, not a.mefe farmer,
but an educated man.
If Superintendent Brown succeeds
in carrying out his idea, no doubt the
school will provide for the girl from
the farm home. She will be taught
such things as cooking, the care OF
milk and butter, sewing, how TO fur
nish and care for home aad the like.
The school will give the same culture
and development that any other school
| gives. and in addition it will give the
country girl the ability to make the.
country home beautiful and desi-
rable place. Il will fit her admirably
/ for the sphere thas she viii probably
occupy.
It is designed to place in charge OF
/ this an educated man who knows
Louisiana conditions and needs, aud
who understands farming practically
/ and scientifically. # Superintendent
/ Brown succeeds in his plan and can
/ find the right man to take charge OF
the school, he will perform q ser vice
/ to the parish the value OF which can
not be estimated. Any school that
gives intelligence and character is q
/ good school, but the country needs
schools that will educate the country
child TO its environment. A school
j conducted along the lines that Mr..
Brown has in mind will be a powerful
i factor in the improvement OF the
country surrounding it. It will prove
i what intelligence can do when mixed
! with muscle In farm work. It will
| break down the sIavish loyalty to cot
i ton and demonstrate that other crops
can be grown probably. The boys
and girls will stay in the school be-
cause by doing SO they will become
fitted for the life they expect to live.
Il will enable the government, IN Its
4 AGRICULTURAL work, to serve the farmer
j to real advantage. The knowledge
/ that DR.. Dodson and his co.Workers
have been years acquiring can be
turned over to the farmers through this
school free OF charge and ready for
/ use.
Now, isn't that type of school thai
the country should have? A schoo
hat carries scientific farming to tht
country boy, and turns him out O
school with devotion for the farm ane
with capacity to make his way on the
farm successfully.
/ doubt ii the state is ready to IN
augurase system OF agriculture
schools-we have too few teachers
who could take charge of them; but i
NAV be possible for uperintendents
and principals in some parts OF tht
state to make at least q good start II
this work. Where there is centra
graded school in community o
farmers, it may happen that public
snir1ted man in the community vii
donate farm OF 10 acres or 20 acres
another pair OF mules and wagon
another Jersey COW, hogs, etc. Th'
agricultural department OF the stats
would be glad to assist, and the schoo
Is started. The greatest difficulty tt
overcome would be TO find teacher
who combine all the qualities neces
sarv to make such school q success
But some one usually steps to th'
I front in every emergency, and surel.
a few men could be found in the stat
who are educated on the book side o
the public school work, who are ex
perts in practical and scientific farm
, ing, and who possess the bushes
ability that would be needed in a schoo
organized along the lines limited q
above.
Il Doubtless the state Will soon en-
courage the establishment of agrIeul
/ tural schools to the extent OF assisting
In their support; but while waiting 10