The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-02
Farm Education.
Wilmington Star.


demonstrate that rural schools in
which agriculture is taught or dem
onstrated really is a practical educa-
t1on If we mistake not there are sew
eral OF these schools in North Caro-
lima and we should soon be getting
good reports from them.
The Second Congressional district
schol at Driver, Va, has demonstrate
ed the utility and value of these
schools. Not only is the science Of
market gardening and farming taught
IN that school but the pupils partici-
pate In practical demonstration Of
farming. IN other words, they farm
ed while learning something Of botany
and agriculture, for they would not
know how to farm intelligently If they
did not learn something about plant
life and the needs Of plants
The children Of the Virginia school
became intensely interested in the
work and became enthusiastic work
ers on the school farm. They actually
became producers. and made such a
success of 1t that the boys and girls
OF the school made enough to take
trip In body to Washington. There
were 22 in the party and the trip cost
each one $13.75. but that was only a
small portion Of the earnings Of the
school farm. They made a handsome
profit on tomatoes and other products.
The Virginia school agriculturists
had good time at Washington. They
got to see the Nations capital and re-
turned home with their ideas enlarged
and their ambition stimulated. Their
| trip to Washington was a revelation
TO them, and the best thing about it
Is that their intelligence and industry
earned it. They had depended on
their own efforts and resources and
gave themselves a really educational
trip as a result of their agricultural
education.
The farm school at Driver, which
Is near Norfolk, has for it's principal
Mr.. j. ID. l.. DeJarnette. who accom-
panied his pupils to Washington on
a three days trip during which they
saw about all there was to see. The
school has an instructor in agricul-
ture who teaches three days a week
and spends the other three DAYS in
farm demonstration work, applying on
the real farms of the district the theo-
ries and science which he teaches in
school. Thus he not only has the
schooi children as pupils but the
farmers themselves get the benefit Of
his instructions and methods. The
farm teacher Ia the man who knows
and the time Is coming when it must
be admitted that this country will be
wonderfully benefited when all our
people know farming.
DR.. p. p. Claxton, the National su-
perintendent of education, at one
time In charge Of the schools at Kin
ston, n. c., and later a professor in
the North Carolina woman's college at
Greensboro, n. c., now one Of the
most distinguished educators in this
country, welcomed the Virginia farm
pupils to Washington and he was
deeply impressed with their work. He
spoke approvingly Of 1t and personally
interested himself in giving the chill
dren a good time around Washington.
The Virginia farm life school fur
nishes good example, for it demon
strates the success Of making agricul-
ture study in connection with the
primary courses in education. The
pupils get two kinds Of education.
Their regular school duties are not
interfered with, and the combination
teaches them industry, economy and
science Of a useful and profitable
kind. Mr.. DeJarnette says each stu
dent this year made a profit Of from
S25 to SIS on each individual patch,
and that the children also assisted in
| va NiiiS a SNIOOl WHICH IurnCO
in q profit Of 5000, after paying all
expenses, including the wages Of a
man who serves both as a farm hand
and school janitor. Mr.. DeJarnette
is enthusiastic over this practical
school work. and he expresses himself
az confident that n school farm Of rs
acres would enable the boys to earn
their own living while attending
school.
1t might be said also that when the
boys finish school they will have a
vocation training that will start them
off in lfe with the brightest chances
OF success. The Virginia school has
been such complete success that a