Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-02-26
NEBRASKA TOOK THE LEAD
First State to Require by Statute
Teaching of Agriculture.
: HISTORY OF THE INNOVATION
Proposed Amendment TO school Law
Was First Rejected by Legi.ia-
ture, but Later Passed, with
Good Results.

Nebraska was the first state TO require
by statute that teachers in public schools
should qualify themselves to teach ele-
mentary principles Of agriculture, the
same as TO teach other branches OF learn
ing in such schools.
In the year 1879 the Board Of Regents
of the University OF Nebraska requested
that the State Board Of Agriculture ap-
point a special committee to consult with
a like committee OF their board touch
ing certain questions concerning the man
agement Of the university experiment
farm and agricultural experiment station
OF Nebraska The committee appointed
on the part OF the State Board Of Agri-
culture consisted of Robert W. Furnas
of Nemaha county, P. II. Barry OF
Greeley county, and $. c. Bassett OF
Buffalo county. At every meeting OF
the JOINT committees the principal sub
Ject Of discussion was: How to secure
a larger attendance Of students at the
Agricultural college OF the university"
In 1871 a proposed amendment TO the
school laws Of the state, a. worded by
DR.. Bessey of the State university. was
placed by :. {. BassettNn the hands OF
Hon. II. d. Ream, member of the legis-
lature from Custer county, and by him
offered as an amendment to the bill intro
duced in the house at the request OF
State Superintendent W. X. Fowler. re-
lating 10 qualifications Of candidates for
teachers certificates The amendment
was defeated In the house. largely for the
reason that a like attempt was made TO
compel the teaching OF music in the
public schools. In the senate Senator
Miller OF Buffalo county offered the
amendment to the Fowler bill and II Was
again defeated In the committee OF the
whole. and for the same reason as In the
house Senator Miller then made per-
sonal plea TO the senate to adopt the
amendment. In substance he stated that
the amendment had received the unanim-
GUS endorsement OF the State Board Of
Agriculture and Of the Dsirymen's asso-
citation: In addition II was endorsed by
DIR. Charles Il. Bessey OF the State uni
yersity. by State Superintendent Fowler
as well as by host Of farmers through
out the STATE lneH tue senate huoptfu
the amendment. the house concurred and
1t became a part Of the school law OF the
state. The law as amended gave the
teachers OF the state until July. 1900. 20
comply with its provisions.
II was at once realized by those inter,
ested that text books relating to the eie-
mentally principles OF agriculture and
suitable for use in rural and graded
schools would be needed. II was learned
that no text book relating to the Gle
mentary principles OF agriculture and
suitable for use in rural and graded
schools had been published. AT the re-
quest Of Superintendent Fowler, DIT.
Charles 4. Bessey. professor Of botany:
Lawrence Bruner. professor Of entono-
logy and @. d. sweexy. professor OF as
tronomy. all OF the University Of
Nebraska. prepared the copy for text
book entitled New Elementary Agricui-
ture for Rural and Graded Schools and
the same was published. being first issued
in 1906 -