Evening star., 1913-11-13
BRAZIL ALEADER
IN FARM SCHOOLS
Prof. Clinton D. Smith Tells OF
Progress in South Ameri-
can Republic.
Temperament OF LATINS
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
Methods of Teaching Efficient in
United States Not Always
Successful There.

That the type Of agricultural college
and experiment station so useful and so
efficiently adapted to the needs of this
country may require fundamental modifi-
cation to silt il to the peculiarities of
other races and nations is the opinion of
Prof. Clinton D. Smith. lately returned
from South America.
Prof. Smith is ex-drector of the Michi-
gan experiment station and ex-president
OF the EscoIa Agricola at Piracicaba,
Brazil. 4 paper embodying some of his
experiences in and opinions concerning
that country along this line was read by
him at the recent meeting at the New
Willard OF the Society for the Promotion
OF Agricultural Science.
Differences Are Fundamental.
When we look at methods and equip
ments in countries where the language
is Latin the difference in tongue is more
important than one would think" said
Prof. Smith. for it indicates much more
than different way of expressing the
same thought; it often means different
thought. The Brazilian boy, whose logic
and mental attitude differ entirely from
that of Yankee. needs training fun
damentally diverse from that of the
young man at Cornell or Iowa.
Il mention Brazil a type for the
reason that | spent more than five years
in that country, but, in general. the
same statements may apply to Argentine
and Uruguay. which / visited. and Chile
and Peru, the schools of which I was
obliged to study at a distance.
Owing To the great extent of the
country and the diversity of climate, the
task of developing any one system of
education in agriculture. or any one type
of institution adapted to all the states,
has been of necessity abandoned, Ger
tain states are ripe for agricultural
schools, Others are far from taat happy
period, the states nearest the equator
being the most backward
Racial Prejudice Factor
The students are not. as with US. one
race. class may contain students of
every shade from black TO pure white
with all the difference in temperament
and viewpoint that this variation implies
Moreover. racial antipathy there Is by
no means absent, although not SO ap-
parent as In the United States. TIE ma
terial is good. The boys are far from
lazy. are ambitious and easy to deal
with Their rapt attention to a lecture
very probably would be a novelty to
American teachers. 1t would take a
pistol shot in the room TO disturb it
They are there for business. Their prep
ara alton for their agricultural studies, If
not poor, is at any rate unsuitable, but
this handicap is cheerfully overcome.
An Indication of the slow recognition
of the Importance of agriculture in Bra
zii is the fact that only since 1850 has,
there been secretary of agriculture.
That. however. a new and large central
agricultural and veterinary college at the
capital has opened its doors this year is
a most favora ble{ Indication of progress
These two subjects 90 hand in hand in
Brazil, the courses being identical the
first two years and divergent the secoiid
two.
San Paulo's Good School.
'''rhe school of the state of Sac Paulo.
most progressive of the states is the
result of the gift of a wealthy and pa
triotic citizen, DIR. Luiz Vicente de Souza
Queiroz. who. in 1892, presented his PLAN
tation to the state government for the
purpose. 1t was as director of this in
stitution that | was appointed in 1905
and had such good opportunity to study
the Brazilian boy at close range.
Many of the students were sons of
wealthy planters and did not greatly
relish the idea of personally handling a
plow. This WAS performance they had
associated only with their fathers labor
ers-not with sons of gentlemen. | got
them interested by odinS il myself first
proper handling of a plow was an art. 1
threw All atmosphere around it and
soon had them not only willingly but
anSiously waiting their turn at the
handles. On the other hand many of
the boys had never in their lives seen a
piow in action or driven any sort of "A
team and the novelty made il attractive
As d rule, the work with cattle and
horses proved delight and the young
men soon learned 10 Judge both with a
degree
Handsome Group of Buildings.
You can see by these pictures.' said
Prof Smith in conclusion, showing a Sc
ries of very handsome photographs .how
really beautiful the campus is The inn
posing white buildings, the turf and the
wonderful variety Of plants. trees and
shrubs that decorate the grounds make
II most attractive. The grounds are such
a favorite resort for visitors on Sunday in
automobiles and carriages that every Sat
urday the roads through them receive a
thorough sweeping in preparation for the
event
This, indicating another, shows the
students playing foot bali They are very
fond OF American games, and the playing
fields are usually well occupied The per
Sonal contact in the rugby game is not
however, relished, and the soccer game
has the cai. They are mighty good
players, too.
rrof smith looks for nothing but prog
less III Brazil and in other South Ameri-
oan countries along the line OF agricul-
tural education in the years To come.
Much has been made III "a comparatively
short time already, nor has the United