Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-09-23
TEACH CHILDREN
ABOUT The SOIL
Tbs Study of Landscape of the
Nearby Country VIII Be
of Great Benefit to
Young Students.
k8y j. NJ. Wilson, Department of Al.
siSn!eure, University of Arkansas.)

~AN AO"u ShC scriptures ana JnuS
INIT they might get the right ideas OF
khear religious duties. Even after this
MIN was Outgrown our schools for gen.
0Ak1ons did little more than teach the
me of the tools of mere knowledge
kAe three RS, readin', ritin' and rith.
Mnetfc, were the fundamental require.
ne1ts Of the school room. Then came
NJ idea that the school should train
children for citizenship, and it was
argued that the chief reason why
scAooas should be supported at public
exRense was in order that good citi
oo1B SAOuld be trained there. Another
seao vas when physiology was added
DocA0se 1t was acknowledged that the
seAsol should do something to train
- child in the individual art of liv.
~. Still another step was taken
when domestic science and normal
oaaning were brought up to our city
eehools, because these studies EN-.
Jnasf1ed the fact that the schools
Snask do something to train workers
90 finally we have at present the
t1sA gaining strong foothold that
- school must train the child to fill
- place in the world of mem; to see
IN the relations of life; to be fitted
- I'VE in human society. This idea
oA6faces all the other ideas. 1t i'm.
lies the idea that the schools shall
~ oaly teach the elements of knowl
edge: that they shall train for citi
zSgnshtD; that they shall train In the
N2t Of living; that they shall prepare
- m occupation; but that they shall
- all of these, and do them not
nsrsax for the individual, but for so
Asy.
How far can this lead be developed
u tho country school?
The purpose of this paper Is not to
1aal In theory; not to argue particu
Daxly for this function of the schools
1T rather to try to show some bene
IN derived from agriculture in the
y4Al schools. Agriculture is here
AD11 in it, broadcast sense and not in
~ narrow. restricted sense.
Will Mscuss the benefits under
Ane heads. some Of which might be
- cause of the other, but neverthe
1saa benefits.
Hxrst. it makes the school the cen,
~ Of social life
Second, It makes better farmers.
2atrd. 1t makes better homes; and
tsurth. It makes better people.
MA stMdy Of landscape Of the near.
~ suantry:; the study Of streams: the
s.1y Of the soils; studies that have
- - with the location OF homes and
Nssss: the study Of the weather: 81
,aeumas> plants; and the study Of do
mastie snimnssS~all Of these things
- .stv~ the chin 2 better start In
ooosatfnn: . better sansbrehenslon Of
~ Ne he is 10 live; a better idea Of
- busfness Of farming; y better NO
0sA about the Importance of asricul
9&, and will tend to- at him. better
~ future life. either on tho farm, O.
0EwAere elise. than could shy amount
y eee old fashioned book knowledge
~ course any one pleading for thie]
1srt It study in the rural schools
must make It clear that the ordinary
accomplishments Of reading, writing
~ arithmetic, are not to be neglect
- A q matter of fact pupils under
IN method can be Just as we'll
1saaasd In these branches.
H. drat means Of making the rursl
AsAss( social center is through the
Ae tenEht in the rural schools would
- especially helpful. The nature
1EnAy. when properly taught. approve,
ll1 both to educators and farmers
i y principle Of education recog
n18e4 by every modern teacher that
- education it is necessary to con
s11Qr TIE environment Of the child SC
~ scAo0i 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
md prepares for a more fruitful study
It 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 a
love. for the country: teaches that il
ss possible to live an intellectual life
upon the farm.
The point to be emphasized. how
ever, is that a course OF study con
gtructed on this theory will bring the
rural school and community closer to
sether; will make the school worth
4 BARNARD 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
.nalk.
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Hatch guinea fowls eggs under com
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