The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-10-06

tural and practical value. The
teaching of agriculture in the public
schools is not hobby; it is advocated
BY the U. S. Commissioner of Educa-
ton and the leading educators of the
country.
Last year the directors of this
county at their annual convention by
resolution endorsed the efforts of the
County Superintendent to introduce
the study of agriculture into the
schools, and recommended that a
course in agriculture be outlined and
taught in all schools of the county
Such an outline has been placed in
the new course of study now in the
hands of the teachers. 1t is now the
duty of the teachers to teach this
subject using this outline as general
guide. The teacher having text of
his own and making liberal use of
the government bulletins can do
something toward teaching this sub
ject. But the teachers have not had
much opportunity to prepare for
teaching this subject, and they need
a text book as guide; the text will
also give the pupils something definite
to study. Since the directors have
recommended the study of this sub
ject, it is evident that it is their duty
to provide books. l cannot too
strongly urge grades. A number of
the school districts in the county
have already done this, and l trust
the others will take early action in
order that the books may be available
for this year.
Most of the companies doing a
school text business have a text on
elementary agriculture, and any of
these companies will send a sample
copy to the secretary of the school
board upon application. l have a
number of these books in my office
and will gladly go over them with
any director and assist in selecting
the most suitable text for the particu-
lar school.
In introducing a new study we
must meet the objection that the un-
graded schools are already over
crowded with classes. My idea is
that this subject may be taught with
out any more classes, and none of the
other studies neglected. This is the
plan I wish to suggest to teachers:
Combine agriculture with reading one
or two days week; that is at the
regular reading period read from the
lesson assigned in the agriculture
text and discuss the lesson. Combine
with geography one or more days a
week by reciting at the geography
period lesson from agriculture; this
lesson should be one that supple
ments some topic previously touched
! upon in geography. Combine with
language occasionally by using agri-
cultural topics as subjects of COM
positions. Combine with drawing by
drawing some object studied in agri-
culture. Combine with arithmetic
occasionally by basing the arithmetic
lesson on problems involving agricul-
ture such as mixing commercial fer
| tilizers, making a balanced ration,
etc.
Even with the very best text book
the teacher must remember that
while the pupil has one eye on the
text, he must have an eye and an ear
| trained to see and hear the great
lesson of the fields, of the forests, and
Of all nature.
Copies of the government bulletins
may be had free of charge by writing
to the Secretary of Agriculture,
Washington, D. c. Write for the
list of free publications, then select
from the list such as are needed and
ask for as many copies as you have
pupils in the class. The various state
experiment stations also have good
publications which may be had for
the asking. The work of the text
should always be supplemented by a
study of such bulletins as are availa-
BILE on the subject.
! am, respectfully,
l.. MAYNE JONES,