The Detroit times., 1911-01-25

supervision of the state depart
ment OF education. and for these
purposes an additional deputy
superintendent should be provid-
ed.
The subcommittee on labor condi
tons, in reporting its findings, said u
part: .....s..
There is, for those children who
have started as unskilled toilers
at IA or l5, very slight chance
to secure, as adults, either skilled
labor or a reasonable wage adj
vance. Under present conditions
OF industrial training in this state
they are predestined TO medioc-
rity OF work and wage.
Occasionally a great industry
will establish apprentice schools
OF its own. We know of only. three
such in Michigan-the apprentice
schools OF the Packard and Cadil-
lac automobile companies in De-
troit, and the Grand Trunk rail-
way apprentice school In Battle
Creek. These three schools. pre-
pare a few boys as craftsmen or
machinists. In general terms,
adequate training for this class
of laborers has not begun. II our
estimate of the numbers OF chill
dren each year forced premature
ly into the industrial ranks Is
correct, we believe that the need
Is evident of thorough planning
for a training equivalent to the
continuation schools OF Germany.
The whole question of labor
conditions deserves more thor
cough study. But We are sure
that later investigation will only
strengthen the conclusion that
careful industrial training Is de-
handed as a means of advance
ment for workers and as a matter
of economy for the state.
Following is partial report or tn
subcommittee on agricultural educa
ton:
During the current year regu-
lar courses in agriculture will be
given in eleven high schools OF
Michigan. The subjects included
are agricultural botany, farm
crops and horticulture, live stock,
dairying, soils, poultry, live stock
Improvement and feeding, farm
management and farm mechanics.
These subjects are organized as
units in each year Of the high
school course-agricultural bot
any being given In the ninth
grade: farm corps, elementary
soils, horticulture and insect life
OF the farm in the tenth grade;
live stock, dairying, and soils In
81
Improvement and feeding, poultry
and farm management in the
twelfth grade, the combination for
each grade counting as single
unit and the entire work being
elective.
The general plan OF agricultural
work in the Michigan and Mime
sofa high schools Is to emphasize
the four leading phases OF agricul-
ture, plant lift, animal life. soil
fertility and farm management,
and in doing this the farms and
farming appurtenances OF the sur
rounding community are utilized
in connection with laboratory ex-
periments in the schoolroom.
The attitude of students and pat
rons of the schools is thus far ex-
tremely favorable The work OF
introducing agriculture into the
high schools Of Michigan was be-
gun in the fall OF 1908 with one
high school.
To summarize:
% That state colleges of agri-
culture and mechanic arts are full
iilling their mission.
(2D Special secondary schools
of agriculture OF the state and
county type may serve the public
best in certain localities but with
a comparatively high per capita
cost.
ca Secondary agricultural high
school OF the public type may
serve practically all OF the people
of any county or state with a
moderate expenditure for build
ings. equipment and instruction.
(D Secondary courses in agri-
culture should emphasize four
fundamental units: ID plant life;
(2) animal life; (3) soils; (D
business agriculture; and regular
courses In these subjects should
be made a single unit in each
year of the regular high school