Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-11
nAwkEy9 PLAN OF AoRicuL
ruRAL EDUCATION RECEIVES
NOTABLE MEDICATION.
ACKNOWLEDGED 70 De
MOST PRACTICAL METHOD
Association Of American Agricultural
Colleges Gives Tardy Recognition TO
Dean curtiss and His Associates
Farm Subjsots Taught Turnout
Four.ysar Course an Anss Idea.
special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Ames, July IA recent report Of
the Association Of American Agricul-
tural Colleges records notable vim
dication Of the Iowa idea in agricul-
tural education. The committee on ag-
ricultural education held out against
the theories and practices Of Dean
Charles F. Curtiss and his associates
at Ames. but now it declares for them.
without much reservation.
The Iowa idea" in agricultural ed
ucation is to put practical agricultural
subjects into the four years college
course at the very beginning instead
of devoting the first two years wholly
to unconstitutional subjects. That idea
developed out of the experience OF
Iowa State college with farm boys and
their fathers. Before the teaching of
agriculture began at the opening of the
course this is what happened: When
the boys went home at the end OF their
freshman year and answered the home
questions about their work, they could
not point to single agricultural study
they had followed. That discouraged
them, perhaps, and usually made the
home folks impatient with the 'agri-
cultural college. The result In most
cases was that the boys did not re-
turn for another year and the preju-
dice against college training for farm
ers deepened, To meet this practical
situation Iowa State college put agri-
culture into the very first years Of its
courses and made the work meet the
demand of Iowa people.
This question was for some years a
question of controversy in the commit
tee on agricultural education Of the
Association OF American Agricultural
Colleges. Always the committee re-
fused to indorse the Iowa idea, but
now it says that further investigation.
"as well as the practical experience OF
many institutions, indicate that some
Of the more elementary subjects in
agriculture should be taught in the
freshman year." It adds that it is in
clined to revise its former views and
then cites the reasons that long ago
led Iowa State college authorities to do
the same thing.
Government Corporation Secured.
The United States government is to
cooperate with the agricultural ex-
tension department Of Iowa State coll
lege in making the boys and girls club
work in Iowa the greatest of its kind.
w. j. Kennedy, head Of the extension
department, has just closed an ar
rangement with the department Of ag-
ricuIture at Washington whereby the
college will receive 81, 900 annually for
the salary Of an additional worker
among Iowa boys and girls. 5000 an
nually for travelling expenses. and the
ranking privilege for all official bull
letins. circulars, ETC., sent to the boys
and girls, as part Of their study work
This year something like $4,000 boys
and girls are enrolled in the study
clubs They are growing corn. cult
waiting gardens. raising poultry and
pigs. cooking, sewing and housekeep-
ing. All their work is done under SUI
pervision, and it will close with the
annual contests at the short course at
the college in January. With the help
now provided. Superintendent Bishop.
in charge Of the work. hopes to organ
lie 10000 more boys and girls in an
other wear