Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-07-20

Modern Facilities Turn Out Much
Better Equipped Men,

meEt OF agricultural education in the de-
partment Of agriculture, has just con-
Guided his study of the advance OF agricul-
tural education in the United States in
the last eleven years. He is convinced
that no nation has ever made such prog
ress, and in a report to the secretary OF
Of agriculture, he says:
1.-THE progress, made in agricultural
last eleven years as a result OF popular de-
mand, stimulated by the work OF the
state agricultural colleges and experiment
stations and OF this department, is unpre-
cedented in the history OF the world
SIN 1897, when the present administra-
ton OF this department began, all but one
of the land grant colleges were in run
ming order and doing excellent work, but
their total income was only 5000, 600;
to-day it is SIS, 100000. The property OF
/ these institutions was then valued at $751;
100000; now it is sos, 000, 900. Then there
we're less than 1000 students in agricul-
tural courses; now there are over 14,000.
"Ninety Of the graduates OF these
courses in 1907 accepted positions in the
agricultural colleges ana experiment
stations, or in this department, at sala-
ries ranging from 500 to S1,700, and
averaging s94s.66. 1t is stated by presi
dents of the agricultural and mechanical
colleges that OF late the graduates OF
agricultural courses find remunerative
employment much more readily than the
graduates from engineering courses.
''But the most rapid progress has been
made in the field OF secondary and ele-
mentary education in agriculture. In
1897 Minnesota had the only state agricul-
tural high school, and Alabama has just
made provision for the last Oft nine dis
trict agricultural schools. The teaching
of agriculture in the public elementary
schools was scarcely thought Of. To- day
there are fifteen agricultural high schools
Of the Minnesota type and forty other
agricultural high schools receiving state
aid, sixteen privately endowed colleges
and high schools giving instruction in
agriculture, 115 state and county normal
schools preparing young people to teach
agriculture, and, on our lists, over $50
public and private high schools and
academies giving some instruction in
agriculture. There are sixteen institu-
tions offering correspondence and reading
courses in agriculture and twenty-six
private or special elementary agricultural
schools.
'The Norman education association has
organized department of rural and agri-
cultural education, and has standing
committee investigating the desirability
/ ia hi ~ =.
rural schools. The constitution Of the
new state Of Oklahoma requires the teach
ing Of agriculture in all its public schools,
: and the legislature OF the state has pro-
vided for four state normal schools, with
departments Of agriculture, and an agri-
cultural high school in each judicial dis
trict OF the state. The legislature of Vir-
ginia has appropriated $4,000 for instruc-
ton in agriculture, home economies and
mechanic arts in ten district agricultural
high schools, and Michigan and Missis-
sippi have made provisions for county
agricultural high schools.
''In thirteen states the teaching of aeri-
culture in the rural schools is now re-
CURED by law. 1t is encouraged by state
and county school officers, and taught in
some OF the rural schools of thirty one
other states and territories. Forty-four
states and outlying possessions, then, are
making some effort to teach their youth
the underlying principles OF our greatest
productive industry.
PARTLY as result Of this remarkable
growth Of sentiment in favor OF secondary
and elementary instruction In agriculture
in public schools, and partly in response
to the stimulus given by the Nelson
amendment allowing the land grant coll
ieges to devote part of their increased
federal aid to the special preparation OF
instructors for teaching the elements of
agriculture and the mechanic arts, about
half OF these institutions now offer train
ing courses for teachers OF agriculture,
ranging from summer courses of a few
weeks to regular four-year courses with
additional graduate work.
'This department has aided materially
in promoting the rapid development of
agricultural education in the different
states and territories. In this work the
department has been represented primari-
ly by the office OF experiment stations,
but all OF the other bureaus and divisions
have aided in the work through their in
vestigations and through active co-opera-
tion with the educational agencies in the
different states and territories.
"The weather bureau is endeavoring to
aid in Graduating the superstitions every
where prevailing with regard to the
weather, and with this object in view
encourages its officials to give popular
lectures, and when practicable to offer
systematic courses of instruction. Dur
ing the last year numerous courses for the
benefit Of high schools have been given
and regular courses OF instruction at
agricultural colleges and other collegiate
institutions have been offered in Cali
forina, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland,
Missouri, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Vermont, Washington and Wiscon-