The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-10-25
CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK.
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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 can not, at
this early date, be estimated. The
average child, when it enters school.
knows more about agriculture than
any other profession, and most Of
them go back ITO this calling when
they ha9e finished the public school
course and the sad part is, they go
back little better fitted to carry Oh
their work than when they entersd
school. They have their minds filed
with facts about almost every con-
ceivable subject except the important
one, the one by which they are to
derive a living.
The interest in the teaching cf ag-
riculture is but part of a much larg-
er question, the movement for teach
ing by means Of things that have come
within the students experience, 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 it
since their training had not included
it. Realizing the state Of affairs, the
trustees of Clemson college created
the position of rural school agricul-
turist The work of this position Is
to assist the teacher in any way pos:
sible in presenting the subject Of ag-
riculture to the pupil. This is done
by cooperating with the teacher, vis--
iting 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 few schools in different Sec
ttons of the State, and visit each of
these once a month, staying a day
or two days if necessary and work
with both teacher and pupils. It will
not be possible 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 principal thing in teaching is to
keep the pupil interested (for if We
can keep the interest up, the process
of obtaining the knowledge will fol-
low naturally, the visits to the
schools will be to work with the pu-
pills as we'll as the teacher. This work
with the pupil will be of different ma
ture 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 1t
brings the school in touch with the
home life. AS Mr.. Warren of Cornell
says, "The teaching of agriculture
Will make better farmers, who will
make more money" and it is only by
this means that we can build up our
schools and make our country life
what it should be-the most pleasant,
profitable, and Independent Of all
lives.
Since it 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-
tendent of the extension work, Glenn
son College, S. c., as this work is dl-
rectly under the extension division.
C. B. Haddon,
Rural School Agriculturist, Clemson