The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-08-09
EDUCATION AND THE CONSTiTU-
TIONAL AMENDMENT
To the Editor Ocala Banner:


known as "A joint resolution propos-
ing an amendment to Article II of the
Constitution of the State of + florida,
relative to education, to be known as
section II Of said article, providing
! for the issuance of bonds for special
/ tax school districts, for the exclusive
use of public free schools within such
district. and authorizing the levy Of
a tax to create skiing fund for the
payment of the interest and redemp-
! ton of such bonds" recently printed
/ in the Ocala Banner, deserves careful
attention on the part Of the voters
Of Florida. Incorporated in this pro-
! pressed amend lies the destiny or fate
of our schools, for, with the rapid in
crease in population that has charac
terized recent years, and the conse.
quent increase in the number of pu-
pills who attend our public schools
the available school funds fall far
short of furnishing either the equip
ment or the teaching force that the
present situation in the state de-
mands. The only solution OF this
financial problem seems to lie in the
right of the community to issue bonds
which this amendment, if passed, will
provide.
The business side of the school
question is one which is not always
considered even by business men. We
often hear discussions in regard to
developing the commercial resources
of section through acquiring rail
road facilities, by building hard
roads, by the establishment of va
rious factories and manufacturing
plants, but if we hear of the enlarging
of school facilities and the system
atizing of school work discussed from
a business standpoint. it is because
it is conceded that this work of en-
largement and systematizing will at
tract desirable people to the cOmmu
nifty, not because it is considered that
the work of the school itself may be
large factor in developing the com
mercial resources of a community.
AS Florida is a state rich in nat
| ural resources the teachers Of our
schools should have the time and abil-
| ity to study these resources and the
products with the pupils.
This work should be provided for
in a we'll graded, carefully arranged
course in nature study for the grades
of the school leading to agriculture in
the high school. Our trees, at once
most valuable and beautiful heri-
tage, should be known by the chill
dren, the soil required for successful
growth, the means of propagation,
the value of these trees and methods
of treating the diseases to which they
are liable, and the methods that have
| been found practical in preserving
the forests should be discussed with
the pupils.
Those plants which form our staple
crops; corn, which has become king
in this state, cotton, sugar cane,
whatever products are found in the
section where the school is located,
with especial attention to those fruits
that are typical of certain regions in
the state, those plants which are bene-
| fetal to the soil as we'll as those
weeds that are detrimental to the
growth of plants, should receive the
attention of the teacher
The value of bird life, and the ben
eficial results consequent to the pre-
servation of these friends of the
farmer and the fruit grower, should
also be studied.
This work in the grades should lead
to a study of the soil, the use and
value of fertilizer, the chemistry and
value of food stuffs. investigation of
water supplies, etc, in the high
school, thus leading the pupil to find
a present value for his work in the
sciences and intoxicating in him a
feeling Of responsibility for condi-
tions of living that prevail in his
community.
This work must be approached
solely from the standpoint of inter-
est. Dry as dust" facts must be
omitted and the pupils interest cen
tered on the living. growing things
about him, with emphasis on the val
ue Of those products to humanity
In the communities where work like
this has been done teachers testify
that through the work in agriculture
and domestic science not only have
the pupils themselves been benefited,
and the material life Of the communi-
| tv raised, but an intense interest in
the social and commercial possibili-
-