Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-12-15

in each student a vision of his possi-
bilities. The teacher must always see
the man and not the boy"
Education, he thought, should be
international, disciplinary and cultur-
al. The best education combines the
classics and practical industrial lines.
The United States census shows that
of our industrial people fifty per cent
are farmers. That is, one-half of our
laborers are working on farms. This
means over nine million men. There
fore it seems reasonable that in order
to do the most good to the people
who pay for it there should be more
attention devoted to the study of agri-
culture in the schools. 1t cannot be
expected that all trades can be taught
Why not devote ourselves first to the
most important to the largest number
of people then?
There is a question which is some
times asked, regarding whether the
course in agriculture should be given
in regular or special schools. Prof.
French is of the opinion that it should
De taught in secondary schools as well
as in special colleges for the more
advanced courses. The most approx
ed way to teach the subject in the
high schools seems to be as an applied
science. That is, the course might
consist of four of the sixteen subjects
required by the high schools for grad
uation. The first year ought to be
botany, the second farm crops, the
third history and differentiation of
breeds and dairying, and the last live
stock feeding, breeding and care, and
farm business. Or, if necessary, this
might be made a one year course by
itself, the graduate receiving credit
for graduation in this department
The subject has been taught too long
by an ordinary teacher. 1t certainly
should be taught by specialist to be
effective. High schools have quad
rupled their attendance in twenty
five years. This argues that the high
school is an excellent place to pro-
mulgate agriculture.
This course should be made elective
as there is great deal for the city
boy in such a course as we'll as for the
farmer lad 1t is too early to pro-
phesy exactly what will become of
this branch of education in the high
schools, but it is only logical to think
that the present sees but the begin
ming of great growth along this line.
Going back to his original state
ment that education should be in
formational, disciplinary and cultural.
Prof. French showed how a course
in the high school which included this
branch of agricultural education would
be as nearly ideal from these stand
points as any could be. Speaking of
the benefits to the public of such edu
cation, he hit the keynote of the mat
ter, when he said, What we need is
not more farmers, but better farmers"
Answering the exhortation that is Of
ten made, LET the farmers teach their |
boys" he said that the farmers them
selves did not, could not possibly
know. This would have been a bold
statement twenty-five years ago when J
the farmer was almost outside the
sphere of education, but now that he
ranks among the business men of the |
country and is sending his sons t. col
lege as much as the city merchant, this
statement can be made without fear
of Misunderstanding The individual
farmer cannot possibly know as we'll
as the specialists who make one
branch their life study
Following Mr.. French's address
there was a discussion led by Prof.
MacCurday of the college. The Off
GERS of the Round Table are: c. T.
Grawn of Mt. Pleasant, president and
G. A. McGee of Cadillac, secretary.