The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-01-24
THE GRANGE
Conducted by
wv BARROW, Chatham. N. Y.
Editor OF the NeiC York State Grange
RcUtClD
ASSOCIATED RURAL SCHOOLS.
A lect in Which the Oranges OF the
Country Will Be Interested.

A Sub ect In Which the Oranges OF the
Country Will Be Interested.
We must look to the North Star State
for the latest experiment in associat'
ed rural schools 1t is a new and
somewhat novel effort. yet practically
successful 1t seems that the Mime
sofa law. known as the agricultural
hish school act of 1909, provides that
rura schools that are contiguous to
high schOols tearhing agriculture, man
uaI training and domestic science may
associate with them The state gives
81 $50 toward the work provided the
nigh school district gives $3.50, and
for each associated district an addi-
tiuual 500 is added while the districts
so associated are each given 500 AT
Coiatu thirteen culnnIOn school dis
tricts have united with the high school.
They assess themselves ~ mills for
the promotion of this agricultural
work. which produces revenue OF
about $l,1O0 per year. The amount
received from ali sources for agricul'
tura work in the associated districts
Is Approximately $G500 per year. Au-
thority of control IL vested in an asso'
ciated board of six members of the
high school board and three members
of each of the common schools, thus
making a total board membership Of
fortyhve; but. to simplify manage
ment. the chairmen of each of the sep
aratp school boards constitute the man
aging board. The superintendent OF
the high school has a supervisory con
troll over the country schools thus join
ed, but only such as the managing
board may give him. His valuable ad
vice is given in the selection of teach
ers and in arranging the course OF
study. and he visits and takes an espe-
cial interest in each of these schools,
thus bringing them into harmonious
relationship with one another In
point of fact they and the high school
have become unit of power for agri-
cultural progress, a strong, vitalizing.
rejuvenating force.
While the rural schools are thus left
intact. yet they become a part of q
larger whole ana so enjoy benefits
which singly they could not have. The
high school at Cokato has engaged
three special teachers, one for agri
culture, one for domestic science and
one for the manual training work.
Eighth grade pupils receive instruction
in these branches. The instructor in
agriculture devotes about half his time
to outdoor work when the season per
mits and half to classroom instruction.
AS the high school owns a tract of ten
acres of land. opportunity is given for
actual work by the students. The ag-
ricultural instructor has also eight
demonstration farms under his charge
that is, he works in conjunction with
eight farmers who are willing to allow
him q certain latitude in planning and
directing their work These farms are
visited by him frequently. He notes
the conditions under which each farm
er is laboring, not only of his land, bis
cattle and his buildings, but he takes
into account his entire environment
the financial and other difficulties un-
der which he is laboring-and, having
taken all these into consideration. he
is in full sympathy with the farmers
position and consequently knows how
to help him. 1t is this particular phase
of the work, says one who Is closely
identified with it, that is so new and
that is destined to be the most power
full agency for rural progress that has
yet been tried. 1t is so simple. so sys-
tematic and so effective the wonder Is
that it has not long been tried. A visit
to these farmers is enough to convince
one that this is the efficiency test and
proves it's right to a place in the front
rank among the forces for agricultural
betterment