The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-07-26
STUDY
Of Agriculture Is To Be
Standardized
National Association Takes
Up The Matter

Chicago, ILL.,. July 23-Standardized
courses of agricultural and rural edu.
cation in all grades of all schools in
the country comprise the central oh.
jects of a combined effort by the rural
and agricultural department Of the
National Education Association, the
Nature Study Society, and the school
Garden Association.
The present agricultural instruc.
tion, which is just emerging from the
experimental stage, say the promot.
ers Of the new plan does not in any
way coordinate the work and this in
any branch Of education detracts
from its effectiveness. Nor is 1t plan.
ned to foster lot of theories az to
this branch If education. A compre.
hensive effort has been made and
will be continued to ascertain the
methods and courses of study that
have been followed with success in
various localities through, ut the
country, to select the best from them
all and produce standard system
of courses to be generally applied
with such variations as local condi-
tions might dictate.
Prof. Benjamin NJ. Davis of Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio, who is
president OF the department of rural
and agricultural education of the Ma.
tiOnal Education Association, and al.
SO president of the Nature Study So
ciety, Is the Initiative and leading
figure in the project.
The plans that are the result of his
study and investigations on the sub.
ject from the foundation and much
Of the superstructure upon which the
departments are working toward at.
tanning their desired end The Ma.
ture Study Society and the School
Garden Association were invited to
meet with the department at the Ma
tional Education Association meet
ings so as to make as much progress
as possible in spreading the new plan
among the educators who were gath
cred here for the big convention
When the department has formally
decided upon a definite plan it will
be presented to Sthessparent associa-
tion for approval. and If the national
association approves It, which is not
doubted by the promoters, the states
VIII then take 1t up as basis from
which to work out the problems of
rural education locally. This done
the object of approximate standard.
ization will have been attained.
Preparatory to making up a course
OF study that might be not merely
theory but as well course that will
work when generally applied. Pro.
fessor Davis recently sent out ques-
tionaire to about 700 schools in the
country where these subjects were
being taught successfully, asking the
courses taught. methods and the
measures OF success realized In each.
The answers revealed about a dozen
courses that might be regarded as
standard. 1--WE are not going to try
out any theories" said Professor DAY.
is. 1--WE are trying to find out just
what has been done successfully, then
recommend advancement along the
well beaten paths"
Though the courses of study have
not yet been definitely arranged,
some general conclusions have been
reached. Among them are these:
The high-school courses should in.
clude a comprehensive study of all
branches of agriculture, from nature
study to the study. of plants and ami
NAL husbandry, with emphasis up
on the subjects most closely allied to
the local community interests. The
detail of the course should be deter
mined by the length OF the course
from six to three years. The pri
mary schools are to be given nature
study and the secondary or grammar
schools are to be recommended ele
mentary agriculture. In each case
the local interest, whether dairying
grain raising or cattle raising, is to be
given emphasis. Concrete results are
promised for tn new plan of stand
ardizing the education. 1T will bring
about a point of contact between the
school and community life that We
have not now," said Professor Davis
1T will make practical many courses
now taught as mere theory, and II
will give vocational training. The
J desirability Of agricultural education
universally Is no longer in question
and Standardization will bring the
good to all from the experience Of
all"
--------------,Ss--------
| ., ny,ao nj thops