The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-07-06


schools of agriculture in connection
with their agricultural colleges. These
are doing good work. but they<are
reaching only small proportion of
the farm boys aud girls. One such
school to state is not enough.
The ideal secondary school Is located
away from the heart of the city. It
has n liberal piece of land in connec-
ton with It, TO be successful It must
be surrounded by enough Of farm
to give it rural favor. AS rule
these secondary schools are doing
their work well. They have ruth
lessly cut out the classics and the dead
languages. They have substituted
studies that help to fit the boys and
girls for life on the farm. A large
share of the study of books is done
away with and the study of living
things substituted. The schools are
well equipped with laboratories. The
student works with corn. scoring.
placing and testing. Judging corn Is
as fascinating game as ever a boy
engaged in. Even more interesting Is
the stock judging.
Few of the schools can afford to
keep a complete line of live stock
but neighboring farmers are always
ready to supply the deficiency. Their
there are the machinery laboratories
where the boys learn some Of thu
simpler principles of mechanics as ap
piled to farm machinery. 1t puts
| boy oil his nettle to be turned lOOs'
on pile of castings and told to pu
them together to form Il binder Th'
intricacies of gasoline engine keel
him working after hours. The stud,
of the growth of plants takes the plac
of the study of classified botany. Th
boy learns the names Of the diferen
weeds and how to tell their seed
apart. He learns their habits and tn
best ways of combating them. II
makes collection of insects an
learns which ones are harmful an
which innocent.
He is dealing with life, the kind {
life that he has known ever since b
was old enough to know anything
At last he is learning the answers
that big "why" that has bothered hi
ever since he could walk. He hi
found the education that is suited
his needs and his inclinations. II
an education in the ways of natul
rather than in the ways OF man. 1t
an education that is fitting him to II,
best the life that he knows mo
about.
He may not care much about ct
lcge. His mind may falter at &c
metrical propositions and quadrat
equations. But he can understand q
proposition of soil fertility and cr
rotation. He can work out the ecu
ton Of profit and loss in raising calv'
The greatest mission of any form
education Is to teach people how
live. Not only must it teach them III
e to live well. but it will be success1
directly in proportion to the number
: reaches. The professional colleges ha
q had to encompass themselves with
i we're restrictions in order that tn
!. professions might not become ov
n crowded. With agricultural educati
n there Is no such fear
The danger Is not in getting
: much. The problem is to get enOu,
> Secondary agricultural education
: been phenomenally successful becai
it teaches people the things they WI
: to know. They do not take such e'
cation on the general theory that
:, Is good for them. They can see
= themselves that it Is good. They
: see it in the increased corn vie
grown by the boys who have b'
graduated from such school to
:, farm They can see it from the
!. proved stock that takes the place
:, the bony specimens with which
- once would have been satisfied. II
!. can see 1t In the pride with which
:, keeps up his fences and yards.
:. The girl is given almost as larg
- place in the secondary school as
Z, boy. She is taught the art and
coso,,oo ~ hnyno,n a Iiu~ Cho Srot