The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-08-03
A New Text Book for Public Schools,

Vocational education and education
for efficiency in our public schools
will receive q great boost when the school
OF the State begin the study OF agricul-
ture as prescribed by the State Board OF
Education this fall.
The text book to be used is Agriculture
in the School by James B. H~unnacutt'
editor ofthe Southern Cultivator eminent
ly practical farmer.
Heretofore people have had the erroneous
idea that to be a farmer education wa an
unnecessary adjunct, that education SO
far I from being Ia help rather hin
dered ones eflency as a farmer. or late
years fallacy of such a proposition has
been laid bare, and now all recognize the
fact that to be a successful farmer requir-
ers not only a trained mind but n that
is open to receive suggestion and ready to
act on professional advice,
There is just one drawback to be offered
to the States text book. Some may say
that those who follow the vocation OF
farming will not be helped by such a
eourse. Some do contend that such a
study will not help them. If such would
stop 7 an instant land consider the
various studies pursued that are OF no
, practical value other than for discipline
and at the same time consider What an
important, far reaching study the study Of
agriculture really is, they will be readytto
substitute agriculture for Physics or
Botany or some other study which is Of
less value from a vocational standpoint.
Even II q pupil does not expect to spend
his life on the farm still agriculture may
interest him in a smaller way. He is like
iya at some time to own a garden, which is
an important factor in the economy OF
almost every family, and his study OF
; agriculture will here prove not only a
great pleasure but a signal benefit.
1t Is strange that a state like ours,
which has been almost wholly a~gricultu-
raj has not long ere this introduced some
measure looking to the better training OF
it's people In this most important vocation.
Had this been done years ago nc doubt all
this cry that we o hear Of Back to the
farms" would not be necessary.
"Back to the Farm. The air is full OF 1t.
1t is talked, it is printed, it is mooted, it
Is discussed and all to no avail. Who Is
going back to the farm On the advice OF
newspapers and time merchants and land
owners political economist? No one. There
is only one way to turn the tide Of the
downward bound and that Is to show them
that they can live just as we'll in the coun-
try. But they must be shown. 1t must
be proven to them. Many have tried both
the town and the country. They have
lived both lives and a simple cry Of Back
to the Farm" does n%otinterest them in the
least.
When the younger generation is taught
in the public schools that farm life can be
made just as profitable, just as pleasant,
just as easy as any other vocation then
the question will be partly solved.
The course has been adopted by the
State Board. The text has been selected,
Now let the trustees Of the country schoo
see to 1t that their respective teachers do
not dodge the issue and leave off Of their
curriculum this important study. Let
them see to it that agriculture is taught
In each school.
No ~labratory is required, filled with cost
ly apparati for this study. Nature has pro-
vided the labratory.
Just a small patch Of the wide world In
the vicinity Of the school house is all that
Is required.
Let, the teachers awake 10 a realization
Of the opportunities they have Of doing
great things for their Pupils with this new
old study. Let them give the study Of
agriculture its proper place in thr c%urricu-
lum and they will nave taken a broad step
toward effectively calling the present un-
effective call, Back to the Farm.