Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-08-26
TEACH CHILDREN
ABOUT THE SOIL
The Study of Landscape of the
Nearby Country Will Be
of Great Benefit to
Young StuSents.
SBy j. M. Wilson, Department of Al
ricusture, University of Arkansas

was to prepare the children so they
could read the Scriptures and thus
mat they might get the right ideas OF
their religious duties. Even after this
nm was outgrown our schools for gen.
erations did little more than teach the
use OF the tools of mere knowledge
1he three RS, readin', ritin' and rith
metic. We're the fundamental rea,lire
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
Gems should be trained there. Another
step was when physiology was added
because 1T was acknowledged that the
school should do something to train
t0e 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-
pAasized the fact that the schools
must do something to train workers;
and finally we have at present the
t0ea gaining a strong foothold that
The school must train the child to fill
ats place in the world of men; to see
all the relations of life; to be fitted
10 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.
senship; that they shall train in the
art Of fiviug; that they shall prepare
Tor an occupation; but that they shall
DO all or these, and do them not
merely for the individual, butfor so
oiety.
How far can this lead be developed
In the country school?
Tie purpose Of this paper is not tc
deal IN theory; not to argue particu
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 its broadcast sense and not il
q 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.
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 od the soils; studies that have
70 10 with the location of homes and
villages; the study Of the weather; OF
common plants; and the study of do
mekue Gntmals-an of these things
Win give che child a better start In
oducation; better comprehension OF
the life he Is to live; better idea OF
the business of farming; a better no
laon about the importance Of agricul
tnrs. and will tend to fit him better
Tor future life, either on the farm OF
anywhere eGse than could any amount
u the old fashioned book knowledge
Gf coursss any one pleading for this
sort of study i'll the rural schools
must make it clear that the ordinary
accomplishments Of reading, writing
and arithmetic, are not to be neglect
ID. As u matter of fact pupils under
this method can be just as well
tratned in these branches.
The first means of making the rural
school social center is through the
course of study. 1t is here that Ma
ture taught in the rural schools would
be especially helpful. The nature
study. when properly taught, approves
itself. both to educators and farmers
4 Is principle of education recog
1ixed by every modern teacher that
in education it is necessary to con
Sader the environment of the child sc
the school to him will not be "a thing
remote and foreign" The value OF
nature study teaches love for nature;
Il forms habits of close observation
aad prepares for more fruitful study
OF science in later years. Our best
tanners are also coming to see that
nature stUdy III the rural schools is a !,
necessity, because it teaches the laws
that govern agriculture; teaches s
love for the country; teaches that III
il possible to live an intellectual life
upon the farm
The point to be emphasized, how
ever. is that a course of study con
structed on this theory will bring the
rural school and community closer to
gether. will make the school worth
Barnyard manure is the best gen
eral fertilizer to use about young
fruit trees; care should be taken
however, not to pile it up about the
tree trunk as it is liable to burn the
bark.