The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-08-29

village school. Later the great minds
that were planning this comprehen.
sive scheme of vocational training
came up against the fact that fully
seventy per cent of the children OF
Prussian farmers We're practically de-
barred from attending any of the
higher agriculture schools and that
they could attend tile agricultural
school inethe village only during the
inter months, became their labor
was essential to the farm from the
time the ground was prepared for
planting until the harvest was finish
ed 1t was then that the creators of
the German educational cystem added
another unit to their plan-that of the
VANDERBILT er.
'Of all the teachers on earth the
Handkerchief is undoubtedly highest
to his job. In the winter months, in
the village school, he lays the founda-
tion of his farm instruction so far as
its theory is concerned. But the mo-
ment the cropping season starts this
school is dissolved, the children go to
the fields, and the Wanderlhrer hits
the pike with few personal belong
ings in bundle on his shoulder. Be-
fore following the tramp teacher on
his rounds from farm to farm it is
we'll to. know the ground that he has
been covering with his pupils in the
winter season. Here is the course of
study followed in almost three hun
dled winter agricultural schools in
Germany.
l. Cultivation of the ground, gen
eral field and plant culture, theory of
fertilization for special plants.
2. Teaching of breeding, feeding
and handling of domestic animals.
3. Zoology and veterinary science.
4. General business instruction.
j. Agricultural chemistry
G., Physics.
l. Plant culture.
8. Introduction to the forms of
business correspondence.
g. Theory Of the principles of farm
management.
10. Agricultural bookkeeping.
IL. German language.
-. Arithmetic.
IS. Geometry, surveying and draw
ing.
ii. Fire brigades.
'All of the teachers and a large
percentage of the attendants are grad
yates of the higher educational insti-
tutions. Each is really an expert in
his agricultural specially. The farm
boy who spends the winter under the
Kind OF drilling to which he is sub
'ected in one of these schools carries
back to the farm with him in the
spring grounding in the fundament-
al theory of agriculture that would
do credit to a student in i
any agricultural high school in Amer
lea.
Going to school in Germany is not
an indoor pastime or a side line to
he business of athletic sports. In
.hese winter schools the work is
ave with a fine e3rnesttness. a sDlen-
ia enthusiasm on the part of both {
'npll and teacher, and to spend a day
n one of these schools is an inspira- t
ion to an American teacher. Doing /
o cannot fail to give him an under g
landing of the wonderful equipment I
hat the German farmer of the new t
eneration will carry on his work as a
food-producer.
Kaiser Wilhelm is said to have f
!ade the boast that the time is soon fl
come when, if Germany were iso- il
tied from the world by an impere- C,
able trade wall, she would be able d
meet all the needs of all her peo- S,
lie. To come into touch with the it
brit of these winter schools and II
len follow the Wanderlhrer on his hi
lgrlmage from farm to farm through Of
e whole growing season, is to be m
reed to the conclusion that the kat- er
RS declaration IS certainly no IDLE re
asst. While the equipment ~
est CT these winter schools caunot C.,
described as elaborate. it is certain II
ample, especially when the fact is III
ken into consideration that the real tn
work is to be done in re
3 fields of the farm homes from sill
ich the pupils come" an
Object Lessons in the Field Sc
The big event on the little Ger wo
n farm is the periodical visit of es
: Wanderlehrer. This tramp teacher liv
treated with the greatest respect ,ol
/ given every honor that the peas ow
farmer can bestoW. From sun on