Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-11-09
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!. CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK !.
J. ---- j.
y. Article XXII. II
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Agriculture in the Schools.

Agriculture in the Schools.
Realizing the need Of industrial
education the State Board placed the
subject Of agriculture' in the public
school curriculum. The good to be
derived from this step cannot, at this
early date, be estimated. The aver
age child, when it enters school,
knows more about agriculture than
any other profession, and most of
them go back to this calling when
they have finished the public course,
j the sad part Is that they go back
little better fitted to carry on their
work when they entered school. They
have their minds filled with facts
about almost every conceivable sub
ject except the important one, the
one by which they are to derive a
living.
The interest in the teaching of ag-
riculture Is but a part Of much
larger question. the movement for
teaching by means Of things that
have come within the students eX-
perience, and for teaching something
that Will be Of some material use to
the student when school days are
over. Unless our education is of
some practical use, time is i'll spent
In obtaining it.
When the subject was placed in
the public school course very few
of the teachers were prepared to
teach 1T since their training had not
included it. Realizing the state of
affairs, the trustees of Clemson Col
lege created the position of Rural
School Agriculturist The work of
this position is to assist the teacher
~ any way possible in presenting the
subject of agriculture to the pupil.
This is done by cooperating with
the teacher, visiting the school at
regular intervals and giving help, by
suggestions, or any other way by
which the subject may be presented
to the pupil in helpful manner.
The plan at present is to select a few
schools in different sections of the
State and visit each of these once
month, staying a day or two DAYS if
necessary and work Will Doth teach
er and pupils. 1t will not be posi-
bic for one man to work with all the
schools of the State, but by working
with as many as possible in different
sections, others may profit by the
work Of those visited. Since the prin-
cipal thing in teaching is to keep the
pupil interested Cor if we can keep
the interest up, the process of obtain
ing the knowledge will follow natu-
rally), the visits TO the schools will
be to work with the pupils as well as
the teacher This work with the
pupil will be Of different nature as
circumstances differ. With some
clubs Of an agricultural nature will
be organized and prizes awarded;
with others contests Of different ma
ture will be given, as, for instance,
corn Judging contests; with still
others reading courses will be given,
and essays written by the pupil on
agricultural subjects.
The underlying reason why such
teaching is desirable IS because it
brings the school in touch with the
home life. AS Mr.. Warren, of Cor
nell, says, "The teaching of agricul-
ture will make better farmers, who
Will make more money" and it is
only by this means that We can build
"a our schools and make our coun-
try life what it should be-the most
pleasant profitable and independent
Of all lives.
Since 1t will not be possible, as
above stated, to visit all the schools of
the State it will be necessary for the
teacher, or any one interested to
make application for the work. This
can be done by writing the superin-
tcndent Of extension work, Clemson
College, S. c., as this work is di-
GW under the extension ~ n 19n.adn division
Rural School Agriculturist.
Clemson College.