The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-02-04
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. z. LARSON.
THE UNIVERSITY IN IT'S RELATION TO
COUNTRY EDUCATION.
BY A. B. STOUT, MADISON.

ucatlOn than ne usually OBTAINS. ID the
first place the success of the industries
of agricultural communities depends up
on the conscious or unconscious adjust
ment of practice to certain scientific
principles. Agriculture is an art based
upon technical knowledge. 1t is sure to
become more and more digniGed pro.
fession-a trade requiring Il high degree
of skill combined with knowledge of
the basic principles of complex farm
practice.
Not only is this true, but the farmers
interests have Droadened. He has be-
come cosmopolitan Rural isolation Is
now chiefly a matter of history, and
country education to-day surely means
the best development of the individual
and the community in social, political,
economic, and cultural lines.
If we hastily consider the history OF
free public instruction we note various
stages in the degree of responsibility as
sumed by the public. There was a time
when a common school education was
generally deemed sufficient for the de-
mands of life, but now the general pub
lie considers it Il duty as we'll as Il mat
ter of good policy to provide opportunity
for more extensive education, the cul
mination of the instruction offered by
the state to its citizens is the institution
known us the university.
1t is not possible within the time limits
of this paper to discuss the growth of the
university sentiment even in its bearings
on country education. but rather to de
vote the time to its present Influence on
country life. We must, however, note
that the present development of agricul'
ture has not been brought about by the
elementary schools. Their task has been,
and perhaps ever will he, to follow the
lead of the higher sources of learning.
Elementary schools in the strict sense
are not creative. Higher institutions
with strong men and greater resources
for research and investigation are best
fitted to determine not only scientific
principles but many practical bearings
of the same.
The University stands for increased
efficiency of citizenship. To accomplish
this it has embodie the new system OF
education in which instruction in arts
and industries Is given a prominent
place, and in this, education III agricul'
ture is given place in the front rank
Limiting our discussion to our own state
university we may say that the College
of Agriculture with its collegiate work,
Experiment Station, and Farmers lnsti
tutes is wholly occupied with the pro
blems of country life.
In the college proper various courses
Of instruction are offered. A Long
Course" of four years study gives op'
portunity for advanced knowledge in all
the scientific and practical phases of
farm life. To those who wish to spend
but two years in studya Middle Course
has this year been organized
Entrance to these two courses requires
preparatory education practically
equivalent to High School education
But many country boys are not able tC
secure this preparation, and these the
university has provided for by offering
what is known as the short course. This
is open to any one at least sixteen years
of age who has had a common school ed
cation. No entrance examinations are
required The term begins each year
about December / and continues for
fourteen weeks. Two years work com
pletes the course. This course embraces
practical and scientific instruction in
breeding, Judging, care and management
of live stock, in feeding, veterinary
science, soils, agricultural engineering,
horticulture, blacksmithing and car
pentry, farm dairying, agricultural
chemistry, agricultural bacteriology
farm book keeping, agricultural eco
nomics, parliamentary practiceand organ
ization of far mers clubs, literary society
work and the use of the library. The
entire expense of the two terms of four
teen weeks each is about $50 90, anC
the instruction is given in December
January, February, and March wher
the young men can most easily be spared
from the farm. 2. 507 persons have taker
this course since it was started in 1885
or these, 9OT have returned to the far IN
and about SO& are on Wisconsin farms
Since 1899 twenty eight of the gradu
ates of the long course have engaged il
farming upon the completion Of thei
university education
Thru the inspiration and guidance o
members of the agricultural colleg,
faculty an organization known as th
Wisconsin Experiment Association ha
been maintained for the purpose Of keep
ing these former students Of the colleg
in touch with advancement in agricul
tural work One thousand member
scattered turnout the state are testin,
rev breeds of plants, carrying on CO
operative experiments for the advance
ment of agriculture, As an example 0
the work they are doing we may cite tn
dissemination OF Wisconsin No. corn
In 190e after five years of its dissemina
tion and cultivation 20, 900 900 NOR