Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-20

tine unpleasant IaCt tnAd the aVerdSS
thigh school has not served its purpose
in the sense of meeting present day
demands. 1t has not only tended to d.
rect the country, boy away from indus
trial life, but 1t has lost It's grip on
the city boy to such an extent that
graduating classes are often made ZIP
entirely Of girls. The city high school
has not afforded a satisfactory con-
meeting link between the rural school
and the college. Some form Of country
high school must be evolved. 1t must
serve the needs of the country boy
and girl. 1t must fit them for college II
they want college education, and 1t
must train them for the farm. the
shop and the home, and for useful and
honorable citizenship, if their educa-
ton ends with the high school.
1.-THE city high school needs are not
materially different. Eventually they
will be put upon the same basis Some
1 city high schools will come immedi-
ately to this standard Of providing
specially trained teachers and fields
and laboratories, and grain and stock
and all necessary facilities for making
the work useful, practical and scien-
tifc; and some will merely make pro-
vision for, a little more general science
and call II agricultural or industrial
training Such schools will continue to
Right Kind OF Education.
| sour government has no greater
right kind Of education for its people.
President Roosevelt said, 1T Is s. a
Ireproach to US as nation that we
have permitted our training to lead
children away from the farm and the
shop instead Of toward them A rep
lresentatfye of the German government
said, in addressing meeting OF
| L.. eo,1, rnA1yc NpeyN
| Every farmers boy in Germany,
whether rich or poor, and every hired
man has the opportunity of studying
in the public schools the principles I'M
DERIVING the successful practice OF ag-
riculture and the trades and INDUS
tries The Investigations of Germany's
trained scientific men, coupled with
the national policy of vocational edu-
cation In the public schools, has given
i to that country the foremost place
among the Industrial nations OF the
world. 1t is not the competition of ig
norant labor that the American farm
er or manufacturer need fear. 1t Is the
competition of the intelligent laborer
and the educated farmer and mechanic
in foreign countries that will be hard
est to meet. IA
Vocational Education Needed.
1--WE have come to period when
vocational education must have per-
manent place in our public school sys-
tenn. It is essential to the training Of.
the farm boy and it will be of equal
benefit to the city boy. 1t is not neces-
sary that the country and city schools
be differentiated. The essential thing is
that the work Of the schools be prop
erlys directed to meet the modern needs
OF both communities. 1t would be bet
ter that some of these vocational
schools be established in the country.
for two reasons: first, they will find
there the right environment and the
right purpose and spirit for success
full work; and second, the country sem
timent and interest will center about
such a school and it will more strongly
attach country people to the farm lin
stead of taking them away from the
farm as is the tendency where the
country is dependent upon the city for
schools. The contention on the part OF
some educators that the city schools
can furnish all the vocational educa-
ton required is short sighted policy
and an educational fallacy. The proper
place for the country school is in the
country and 1t ought to be made so
efficient that there will be no need of
the pupil leaving the country until he
is ready for higher grade work than
the country school offers. There Is no
cause for alarm over the proposal to
high schools in the country for the
country needs. These schools will help
to work out the vocational education
problem more rapidly and more effic-
iently than it can be done without
them. They will help to train teachers
for the vocational work in the smaller
schools. The county agricultural high
school has been tried out with good re-
suits in Wisconsin for a period of five
or six years. In Minnesota, the policy
of state aid to consolidated rural
schools, and to special high schols for
maintaining agricultural instruction, is
strongly endorsed. In Nebraska and
in several other states, state aid is
given to certain high schools for main
tanning instruction especially adapted
for the training of teachers for the
rural schools.
"A bill providing liberal federal aid
for vocational education is now pend
ing in congress and was favorably re
ported by the agricultural committee
of the senate at the last session. There
may be difference Of opinion about
some of the details Of that bill, but
there can be no question but that fed
eral aid in establishing vocational
schools and providing for agricultural
extension work, would be Of incalcul-
able value. and it would lead to inn
mediate action, systematic effort, ana
co-opera ton in extending the work IN
all the states. This measure is gaining
rapidly in public favor and 1t ought to
have the support of all friends of in
dustrial education.
THE states should not walt for fed
eral legislation. The movement has al
ready set in. Many states have made
marked progress. This has been the
absorbing topic at every educational
gathering during the past year. We
have received more calls at AInes dur
ing the past twelve months for agri- /
cultural raduates to teach agriculture
in secondary schools than for all other
lines of work combined. barring one
the management of farms-and more
even than for this one The agricul-
tural colleges are establishing courses
to train teachers for this field and the
demand promises to be overwhelming
for years to come Unfortunately, near |
ly all of the competent men trained for
this work at Ames are now being
taken to other states.
This is the most important educa-
tional problem that has confronted the
nation since the passage of the act
For tho land ora nt colleges of 1