The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-06-05
WHAT SHOULD CONSTITUTE AN
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATIONP

school would sbe able to comprehend
scientific problems at all. They would
go back to the farms because UMPIRE
pared for any of the more advanced
lines of agricultural work"
DR.. Pritchett believes that the Iowa
state college has turned out more law
yers than farmers. It is too bad to
break down a system of beliefs by
ruthlessly %intruding the facts, but the
information at hand shows that about
tWo-fifths Of the recent graduates. Of
the agricultural courses are engaged in
actual farming. while only 5 to- Z per
cent are In non agricultural work. But
few of he's graduates have become law
yers. Until the demand for teachers
and experimentalists is met It is hard
to comprehend where they are to be
trained If not at agricultural colleges.
1t is also difficult to see how these men
could be more useful to the state by
working a farm than by teaching the
sciences pertaining to farming, editing
farm papers, or testing hypothesis
concerning the application of science
to agriculture. This answer must
be either that all scientific research is
now complete, or else that scientific
research is not worth while, since. for
sooth, the agricultural college should
make it's main work the teaching of the
art Of farming.
THE second thing needful in realiz-
ing Dr.. Pritchett's ideal in agricultural
school effort Is isolation. This needs
no discussion, since the grade Of ,edu-
cation he has in mind certainly could
not flourish in a college, alongside, of,
and on a par with, real college work.
However, the world is big and there is
a place for the grade Of instruction
which the doctor has in mind. In
fact it is being offered in the numerous
| ch Nrf r1Re - %I~
the state. There will be more such
short courses in the future, but the
| college will hardly go out of business
in order to make room for them. It is
not improbable that county agricultur-
al high schools or eve township
schools, may, in a way which the COL
lege could not, meet the needs which
DR.. Prttchett has in mind. Something
OF the sort has been begun. In Europe
this kind of instruction is common, but
the agricultural colleges are not sac
rlficed in order that it may be done.
On the contrary, they furnish the
teachers and a large part of the sub
Ject matter for the courses given in the
lower grade schools. A paragraph
from Dean Bailey, of Cornell, often
called a prophet in agriculture, will not
be aniss: ~s >''. F.. ..,.. '-
AN internal danger is the giving Of
instruction in colleges of agriculture
that is not founded on good prepara-
ton Of the student or is not organized
on a sound educational basis. Winter
course and special students may be ad-
mitted, and extension work must be
done; but the first responsibility of a
college of agriculture is to give a good
educational course; it. deals with ed
~ucation rather than with agriculture,
and it's success in the end will depend
ON the reputation 1t makes with school
men," .... -:
The farm boy of North Dakota, is to
become capable of occupying a. seat in
legislative, judicial or executive body
in the state and nation, else as a class
the farmer will not be able to cross
swords with banker, tradesman, law
yer or other denizen of the city and de-
mand his fair share of economic and
social justice. He must be able to
help frame" laws, regulate 't~ransporta-
ton companies, lay a forceful hand on
the credit system and enter numerous
activities If he would not continue his
long toll for scant living while so to
Is per cent of the price paid by the
consumer for his product goes to line
the pocket Of middleman, ~transporta-
ton company n other more or less
parasitic non-producer and hanger-on,
To do this he must be trained to think.
| He must nave an all round education.
He must acquire that address and de-
gree OF personal confidence which win
render him capable of demanding his
rights before men. The mere trade
| school will not give this.