Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-10
THE PLACE OF AGRICULTURE In HAWAlpS
SCHOOLS

Much is said nowadays about the teaching of
agricuitur" in the common and high schools
which teaching is supremacy important, but on
account Of it's very importance must J." UNDER
taken with great care.
A school is maintained primarily to serve the
Interests Of it's community; in other Words to
do the greatest good to the greatest number Ag-
riculture is the predominating interest of Ha-
waii, hence it is obvious that agriculture cannot
rightfully be neglected. When we say agricul-
:. ture, we necessarily mean the whole scope Of
rural activities from cane-productiOn to home
comforts and the general education Of the rural
people Bearing this in mind it is not right to
decry the thorough teaching of such branches as
English, history, geography, etc, for without a
fair degree of proficiency in such branches the
man is handicapped in business,
A further consideration that is necessary is
the absolute unfitness of the vast majority of
teachers for teaching agriculture properly Some
have advocated law requiring the teaching of
agriculture in all the schools, but upon the pas
sage of such a law, nearly all our teachers would
find themselves confronted by task for which
they were quite unprepared and as consequence
they would proceed to blHnder, the result being
the propagation of all sorts of false ideas and
ultimately loss of confidence in scientific agr-
culture by the farming public.
For the present the best method undoubtedly
lies in the introduction of agriculture into the
high schools and other institutions of similar
rank Provision should be made for the EN-,
ployment of well-trained teachers of agriculture
in such schools and for the installation of reason
ably good equipment to aid them in teaching
The teacher is the niaiR consideration, for after
all, the teacher himself is the school He should
not be expected to give advanced teaching in any
particular branch, but should be able to get
few correct principles correctly placed in the
minds of his pupils ~ +.=s.- -
Such things as the food necessary for plant
growth what the soil itself is what its deficien-
Gle are, how these deficiencies can best be cor
rected, what is meant by permanent fertility,
how depleted soils ran best be reclaimed the i'm
portance of proper physical condition of soil,
what constitutes balanced ration for each class
OF animals, the merits of various classes of ami
mails, how to select good eed, how to contend
with insect enemies, how to produce good fruits
and vegetables how to sew and how to adorn the
house, etc, ETC.
About ninetS .fiye per cent of our pupils never
reach an institution of learning beyond the high
school, hence the great Importance of reaching
this vast majority with the above enumerated
useful teaching by placing it in the Secondary
or high schools.
AS Il matter of fact, large proportion of our
common school teachers receive their training in
these high schools, and therefore if we can reach
them there with this useful instruction, the prob
lem of teaching agriculture in the common
schools will in time do much to solve itself, and
in due time Legislation requiring the teaching of
agriculture in the common schools will he really
beneficial.
Contributed.