Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-19
STATE HOUSE.
0 k.ce nIH1Xl
Courses in
Secondary Schools.
New Law Relieves Governor and
Council from Pardon Gases.
Progressivss Have TIL August I to
Become a Regular Party.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Tuesday, July 20, 1918, 10
A. M. Special Session, Saturday,
july ~.

Realizing the continually increa sing
need of such courses, the State of
Maine has made liberal provisions for
the encouragement of courses in ag-
riculture in its secondary schools In
1909 the State Legislature passed an
act providing that Incorporated acad-
amies maintaining approved courses
in agriculture should be entitled to re-
ceive from the State in addition to
other State aid the sum of $3.50. In
1911, this provision of the law WAS re-
pealed and more liberal aid was gran
ted through the provisions of the act
for the encouragement of. industrial
education. Under the provisions of
this act any free High school or in
corporated academy providing in
struction in the principles of agricuI-
ture, domestic or mechanic arts is en-
titled to receive from the State sum
equal to two-thirds the total expen-
dture for instruction in those courses
up to the maximum payment on the
part of the State of $500.
The first courses in agriculture un-
der the original law which authorized
State aid for the work We're MAIN
tanned in Parsonsfiefd Seminary Frye
burg Academy and Leavitt Institute.
The figures for the first year show an
enrolment of only seven students at
Fryebnrg. five at Leavitt and four at
Parsonsfeld. Since then. however, the
work has grown. In each school the
interest has greatly increased and
Leavitt Institute reported for the past
school year an enrolment of stu
dents in the agricultural courses.
Three free high schools maintained
courses in agriculture during the past
year, at Wells Washburn and Cape
Elizabeth In addition to the three
academies which originally took up
the work courses were maintained.
last year, in Oak Grove Seminary at
Vassa lboro. East Maine Conference
Seminary at Bucksport, Freedom
Academy Maine WESLEYAN Seminary at
kent's Hill Eastern Maine Institute
at Springfield. Hartland Academy and
at Good Will Farm. In all cases the in
structors in charge eff the courses
have had special preparation for the
work. The employment of a trained
teacher being one of the requirements
for the approval of the course by the
State Educational Department.
All ditCiipt 10 lftl1ls W lidiil liit
State normal school students in agri-
culture in order that they may take
up school garden work OF elementary
Training school at Fort Kent, a
strong course in agriculture has been
maintained. The work of the school
in this line has been very helpful to
the people of the community.
The State department of education
has prepared for distribution n pam
phlet giving in detail a suggested course
of study in agriculture. This was pre-
pared for the department by former
Dean William b. Hurd of the University
of Maine. 1t includes an adaptation
of a course in agriculture with the
regular English course. a study of soil
formation. manures and fertilizers.
care of domestic animals. poultry
with a complete schedule
of experimental exercise and valua-
bic photography. Additional to this
the department issues a labora tory
manual prepared by Mr.. l.. B. Bes-
ton. formerly of the Madawaska
Training School.
The gradual but healthy growth of
a agricultural work in secondary schools
is one of the most encouraging fea-
lures of vocational education in
Maine. In all of the schools where the
work has been instituted an effort for
Improvement is being made and each
year shows the addition of stock and
equipment or the actual cultivation of
larger areas and the general adapta-
ton of the course to the needs of the
cnmmIlnifN