The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-07-19
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
IN the UNITED STATES

; The twenty-first annual report
; Of the Association Of American
; Agricultural Colleges and Expert
, ment Stations has just appeared.
, This shows that there are forty
: nine institutions Of college grade
; teaching agriculture in the Unit
; ed States. One Of these institu-
, tons is located in each state and
; territory on the main land, and
; one on the Hawaiian Islands at
; Honolulu. When we remember
; that the first agricultural college
was started fifty-three years ago,
) in the state of Michigan, the
) reason for the development of
} this number, and for the import
ant place now held by those insti-
buttons, is of interest.
In 1862 Abraham Lincoln sign
ed the Morrill, Act. By means of
this Congress provided for the
setting aside of certain lands in
each state and territory, the in
come of which was to be used for
instruction in agriculture, me-
chanic arts and allied subjects.
Thinking men had come to recog-
nize that higher education, as
provided by the universities. was
not designed for the direct help of
the great producing classes. The
provisions of the first Morrill, Act
were framed with the idea of
meeting this apparent need. In
1890 the second Morrill, Act was
passed, providing for annual ar
preparations out of the treasury
of the United States, for the sup
port of these colleges. Later, in
1906, the Nelson bill made furth-
er provisions for support along
certain lines. To receive this fed
eral support it is necessary for
the states to make certain pro-
visions on the start, and to con-
tinue this support as long as the
United States treasury contrib
utes. The state must provide
buildings and look to their care.
Only certain lines of instruction
are permitted under the federal
acts and so other necessary lines
must be, provided by the states.
In practice, these provisions have
proven wise, as they have insur-
ed the interests of the states and
made real state institutions.
In the beginning, the agricult-
ural colleges offered courses of
strictly college grade. This con-
fined the work to young men
chiefly, and to those of the young
men who had. finished high
school course. This preliminary
training was necessary, to- enter
the college. Noting the existing
demand for training such as the
college gives, by the men on the
farms who could not avail them
selves of the full college course,
colleges provided Shorter and
more, elementary courses. Wis
consin was amongst the first to
offer thisa A'schodl of agriculture"
work. At present such courses
are offered by many of the insti-
buttons. Four years ago the Mon
tana state college listed such a
course and a large attendance has
proven its popularity. Continu-
ing from October to March, the
men on the farms can take ad-
vantage of it, as those are the
slack months. ~t.t
The college courses for high
school graduates; the school of
agriculture during the winter
months, which does not require
a high school training for en-
trance, along with the extension
division of the college, which
takes information to the farmers
in their home community, thru
the farmers institute and other
meetings, explain the rapid
growth and the important place
now held by the agricultural COL
lege.