The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-23
NEW AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.
(St. Johnsbury Caledonian.)

The establishment of a department
of agriculture at Lyndon Institute
through the generosity Of T. N. Vail
promises to be very important devel
opment in Vermonts educational sys-
TEN. First is a recognition of the
necessity of thorough and practical
education along agricultural lines in
order to achieve success in agricul-
ture. Vermont has never had such
an institution. The experiment sta
ton and farm at Burlington are main
tanned not for practical farming pur-
poses but for expert research and
experimentation in agricultural mat
ters. Its training does not tend to
develop practical farmers but agri-
cultural scientists. This of course is
valuable and necessary work and
not a discredit to the institution but
it should be understood that in its
main work the experiment station is
not intended TO develop practical
farmers although it does aim to ac-
quire knowledge that will aid and ben
eft the practical farmer The school
at Lyndon on the contrary is intended
to educate the young men along the
lines of practical farming as well as
the scientific methods that can be
probably applied to agricultural
work. So it is seen that the new
school comes to fill a new field and
satisfy new and progressive demand
in Vermont educational methods.
1t will prove a benefit to the State
as a whole because it will afford the
State an opportunity of watching a
practical effort to teach practical agri-
culture without making expensive ex-
periments on its part. The estab-
lishment of any new department in
education is always attended by more
or less expensive mistakes. This is
often due more to politics in the IN
dertaking than anything eles. But the
Vail school is established independ-
ent OF politics and the able board of
management he has selected to have
charge of the work will save this
school from mistakes that would be
made by less able board and at the
same time give the State authorities
the most valuable instruction regard
ing the lines on which such work
should be conducted.
Perhaps the most important feat
ure of the new school IS the provis-
ion that there shall be no free edu-
cation for the young men who enter
it While some charity has been ne
cessary in the establishment of the
institution is is proposed that every
young man who seeks its benefits shall
pay for what he gets. 1t does not in
tend to close its doors to those who
lack money to secure an education It
has provided a way in which such
young men can work their way
through. In requiring every young
man to pay for what he gets the school
ensures itself of an attendance of
young men who actually desire the
kind of education it has to give. 1t
also will develop in the young man
himself spirit of independence and
true appreciation of what he re-
ceiyes. 1t will also tend to hold the
students to practical lines. With the
expense of education placed on them
they will be slow to adopt some of the
expensive and luxurious practices that
have grown up in other educational
institutions.
We believe that the school has been
established on very sensible lines,
that it is planned so it will for all
time be what it is designed to bean
institution that will give deserving
young men an opportunity to lay the
foundation fol- progressive and sue
cessful agricultural work For these
reasons it deserves and we are conf
dent will win success and prove Of
immense value to the people of YER
mont. When completed it will make II
splendid monument to T. N. Vail and
his love for the State of his adoption.
Badly won't suffer five minutes with
Group IL you apply DR.. Thomas Eclec-