The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-20

on the subject. and that they should
also feel like criticizing the othei
change made at the same time, looking
10 development along the line OF
teaching agriculture as a trade. Tn
fact that critlciam of the agricultural
apprentice course finds place more
than once in the charges, Is evidence
of decided disapproval. Yet this board
differs SO widely from the welfare
committee in this respect that they
feel that what has been begun in this
direction is the highest claim they
have for the approval OF their admin
istration. However great the success
of this institute has been in educating
engineers and chemists and experts In
the science of agriculture. 1t cannot ba
denied that this training has taken
tho boys away from the farm and
kept than away. These boys hava
been educated TO be splendid teachers.
successful demonstrators of agricul-
tural stations, and eminent experts i'll
the agricultural departments. but they
| have been educated away from the
farm. The obvious problem. both here
and at similar colleges, was to out
line a course which would attract the
| farmer boy to the college. educats
| him to be a practical farmer, fill hini
| with enthusiasm for the business and
| the life of a farmer. and send hint
| back to the farm more interested in
and better equipped for its work.
| This is one of the chief purposes for
( which the institute was founded 1t
was already too long neglected. The
agricultural apprentice course was
| designated to meet this want. 1t is
an experiment which is proving sue
eesstul, and while it may not be pop
ular with some, 1t is the fixed policy
of this board and OF the present adj
/: ministraton to foster and encourage
! it.
The Presidents Personality.
VII. Personal characteristics.
The only discussion under thil
! charge was with reference 10 crtti-
cisms OF certain publications by ths
students. 1t appeared that while the
censorship OF the students publication
/ was in the hands OF a committee of
/ which DR.. Barringer was not menl-
ber he had discovered and done every
I, thing which was practicable to sup
press the article which was the chief
subject OF grievance.
4 The undisputed evidence showed an
Improvement In the conduct and moral
standards OF the corps. 1t was CRATE
full to hear these tributes from their
teachers ami officers. 1t must not be-
forgotten. however, that in the publ
cation of their college paper, there arc
certain proprieties which must be OBJ
| served and certain lines which cannot
be passed. With these admonitions
the board feels i, proper to leave tho
| matter in the hands of the proper
| committee on publication.
Upon the whole case the board feels
constrained to say that they consider
these charges as ill-advised and unsus
| tanned. 1t requires no great amount
| of investigation to discover material
+! Improvement in various lines at tho
Y. p. |. during DR.. Barringer.s admin
lstration.
! Among others, these may be men
toned: The standard OF curriculum
| has been raised; the course of study
! has been made more appropriate TO
| fulfil the purposes for which this In
| stitute was established: the agricul-
tural apprentice course has been es-
I tablished and is winning popularity in
I it's work of teaching agriculture as
| trade: advanced entrance requirements
for the college are helping to take
4 the institute out of competition with
k:sh schools. and have offered class
of students better qualified to get the
I best results from their instruction:
7 the Improvement in the conduct and
4 moral tone of the corps is everywhere
! recognized; disease in the live stock
; has been stamped out and methods Tor
its prevention in the future have been
adopted marked Improvement In tho
grounds and buildings and physical
/ plant and equipment has been made.
| and expenditures have not exceeded
! income These results have been ac-
4! complished in the face of almost con-
4 slant criticism and opposition, which
/ begun before DR.. Barringer had been
! in office a full session, and long be-
fore he had opportunity to demonstrate
w.t. ~ btS a11 Int f,~af an
I Tho board OF visitors. in simple JUS
j tice to DR.. Barringer, commends his
work. and 1t is their purpose to con
! tinue to give him their encouragement
! and support. II the alumni will ac-
cord to the administration confidence
\ In their loyalty and good faith, and
4 will add the weight OF their encour-
i agement, the result must be that tho
+, Y. p. /. will in a short time be aehiev-
Ing more signal success. and will ac-
i compllsh increasing good TO tho state.
, ~