The Green Forest tribune., 1911-09-08
TEACH CHILDREN
 ABOUT TIE SOIL
The Study of Landscape of the Nearby Country Will Be of Great Benefit to
 Young Students.
(By J. M. Wilson, Department of Ag- ricuIture, University of Arhansas.)

(By J. M. Wilson, Department of Ag-
 rieulture, University of Arhansas.)
 The object of schools in olden times was to prepare the children so they could read the Scriptures and thus that thay might get the right ideas of their religious duties. Even after this aim was outgrown our schools for gen erations did little more than teach the use of the tools of mere knowledge. Tue three r's, readin', ritin' and rith- meric. were the fundamental require ments of the school room. Then came the idea that the school should train children for citizenship, and it was argued that the chief reason why schools should be supported at public expense was in order that good citi- zens should be trained there. Another step was when physiology was added, because it was acknowledged that the school should do something to train the child in the individual art of liv- ing. Still another step was taken when domestic science and normal training were brought up to our city schools, because these studies en- phasized the fact that the schools must do something to train workers; and finally we have at present the idea gaining a strong foothold that the school must train the child to fill it's place ill the world of men to see a1 tho Int of ha to live in human society This idea embraces all the other ideas. It i'm plies the idea that the schools shall not only teach the elements of knowl- edge; that they shall train for citi- zenship; that they shall train in the art of living; that they shall prepare for an occupation; but that they shall do all of these, and do them not merely for the individual, but for so- ciety
 How far can this lead be developed in the country school?
 The purpose of this paper is not to lGrly for this function of the schools, but rather to try to show some bene- fits derived from agriculture in the rural schools. Agriculture is here used in it's broadest sense and not in G narrow, restricted sense.
 l will discuss the benefits under four heads, some of which might be the cause of the other, but neverthe- less, benefits:
 First, it makes the school the cen ter of social life
 Second, it makes better farmers.
 Third, it makes better homes; and
 Fourth, it makes better people,
 The study of landscape of the near by country; the study of streams the study of the soils; studies that have to do with the location of homes and villages; the study of the weather; of common plants; and the study of do- nestle animals-all of these things will give the child a better start in education; better comprehension of the life he is to live; better idea of the business of farming; a better no ttOu lbOQI lIC lHIpOl ldllCt Oi dSIlCul- ture, and will tend to fit him better for future life, either on the farm or anywhere else, than could any amount of the old fashioned book knowledge. Of course any one pleading for this sort of study in the rural schools must make it clear that the ordinary accomplishments of reading, writing and arithmetic, are not to be neglect ed. As matter of fact pupils under this method can be just as well trained in these branches.
 The first means of making the rural school social center is through the course of study. It is here that na- ture taught in the rural schools would be especially helpful. The nature study, when properly taught, approves itself, both to educators and farmers. It is a principle of education recog- nized by every modern teacher that in education it is necessary to con sider the environment of the child so the school to him will not be "a thing remote and foreign" The value of nature study teaches love for nature; it forms habits of close observation and prepares for a more fruitful study of science in later years. Our best farmers are also coming to see that nature study in the rural schools is a necessity, because it teaches the laws that govern agriculture; teaches love for the country; teaches that it is possible to live an intellectual life upon the farm.
 The point to be emphasized, how ever, is that course of study con, structed on this theory will bring the rural school and community closer to- gether; will make the school worth