Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-29
A PLEA FOR RIGHTS
DR.. A. N. HUME, OF BROOkING0,
TALKS ON EDUCATIONAL
RIGHTS.
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
From the Capital City, Tire Various
State institutions n Dr.
ferent Parts Of the
State.

In a recent address before the South
Dakota Educational Association at
Pierre. A. N. Hume, Agronomist,
South Dakota State Conege and Exper-
iment Station. spoke in part as follows:
American m and their families
are becoming increasingly conscious
Of the fact that not only have they
beer deprived, in some places, of in
dustrial rights. but also they are be-
coming aware that they have not yet
attained their educational rights.
They are coming to know that in or
der that democracy shall be preserved.
country children and youth must nave
adequate advantages. fully comparable
with those accorded to the people OF
towns and cities. Hundreds of farm
homes in distant country places are
to-day facing the problem of getting
adequate common and high school
advantages for their youth. High
schools especially are often not within
reach and although a little is already
done by the state to make p for hand
leaps, much more is demanded. The
American farmer is not intending to
become an American peasant after a
generation Or two, and to that end, he
demands the educational advantages
of a democracy.
The difficulties in the way of supply
ing adequate education for all people
of the Commonwealth, are only equal
ed by the tremendous consequences
OF neglecting the job. Whatever time
element is necessary in accomplishing
the work, is necessary, that is all
there is to that.
It is evident that schools must every
where be more closely related to
homes-to life. That is why vocational
courses must be introduced. When
ever any vocation. agricultural or
otherwise, becomes a very important
part of the life of any community,
then courses in said vocation should
be introduced into the schools of hat
community.
This does not call for the establish.
ment Of separate schools Of agricul-
ture. The establishment Of a separate
set of schools of agriculture would be
expensive and otherwise u%nsatisfac-
tory. The idea is s~egregating agri-
culture and combining it to schools
designed solely to its own technical
work is unnecessary. unwiSe and I'M
democratic. but the addition of agrt-
culture wherever 1t is wanted to the
present school system will add to
what we have. will contribute strength
without taking it away from anybody
else, will broaden and vitalize commu-
nifty life II will not only give us agr1-
culture in the schools, but 1t will give
agriculture better schools. Thus the
fundamentals of agriculture should be
and must be made a part Of the school
c%irricula OF many rural communities.
In order that q reasonable number OF
school in the state shall become
strong enough to introduce agriculture.
state appropriation should be made for
the purpose. This is nothing new.
Massachusetts,, Minnesota. Wisconsin,
Iowa, North Dakota, and other states
too numerous to mention here, have
made much progress along these lines.
1t can he done In South Dakota Sup
pose the farmers Of this state say it
will b. done here. Well, then, it will
be done, and when it is done. agricul-
ture will be introduced into the
schools. and what Is more, adequate
schools will be introduced into agrt-
culture. and that means democracy.
Some courses of study will be sug.
sested later.