The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1914-08-14
Farm Home Class

- PAs" WASAOUJ SSA Va HAOAC A@LAh-
ers or farm women can form home
classes in agriculture or domestic
science and receive the textbooks
lectures, lantern slides, laboratory
and cooking equipment necessary to
conduct them has been devised by the
u. S. Department Of Agriculture in
cooperation with Agriculture Col
leges Of certain states.
The object OF the plan is to make
accessible at home, to men and women
who have not the time or means to
attend the regular courses at the col
leges, practical short courses in agri-
culture and home management es-
pecially adapted to their districts.
These courses, which will consist Of
Is to 20 lectures, and will consume
five or more weeks, can be arranged
to suit the spare time and convenience
Of each group Of people.
The course to be oHered at first are
poultry raising. fruit growing, soils,
cheese manufacturing, dairying, but
ter making, and farm bookkeeping,
and for the women especially, courses
I'm the preparation, cooking and use
of vegetable and cerial foods. The
Department will supply lectures and
lantern slides covering these subjects,
and the States which have agreed to
cooperate in the plan will lend to each
group laboratory and cooking appar-
atus valued at $100 and reference
library. The textbooks and lectures
will be made so complete that each
group can safely appoint one Of its
members as study leader to direct the
work Of the course.
When a group has decided to take
up the work, the State which cooper
ates sends an agent with the Depart
ment's representative to organize
sample class and assist the leader
whom they select in laying. out the
work and in showing him the best
methods Of procedure. The classes
commonly are held from 800 to 1900
in the morning and from 100 to 400
in the afternoon, two or three days
each w,.k. The sessions are not held
every day, so that the members will
have time to attend to their farm
duties, in between the sessions, as we'll
as before and after the instruction
period. The classes meet commonly
at the most convenient farmhouse.
During the morning hours, textbook
work is done. In the afternoon lab
Oratory work is conducted, and the
women who have elected to take the
domestic science courses have prac-
tical lessons in cooking.
As soon as a class is established,
the State organizer withdraws to
start class in some other district.
The work thereafter is left in charge
of the leader, who receives assistance
by mail from the college cr the De-
partment in carrying on the work.
As there is no regularly paid in
structor, classes can be carried on all
over the State as rapidly as the col
lege organizer can visit the groups,
and as quickly as the laboratory sets
supplied by the college become av-
ailable. The local leader will preside
during the reading of the lectures and
references, for which full texts and
lantern slides are supplied by the De-
partment He will also be responsible
for the laboratory equipment. Every
one who completes the course will re-
ceive certificate from the State Col
lege.
Not all o. the States have yet |
agreed to cooperate in this plan. Last
winter experiments along these lines
were carried out successfully in Penn
sylvanria, and this has stimulated an |
interest in the method. in other States. |
In one of the Pennsylvania classes
more men applied than could be oc-
comodated, and all Of the 20 men and
is women who began the course COM
pleted it. Pennsylvania is now ar
ranging for more classes, while Mass
achusetts, Michigan, Vermont and
Florida expect to take up the work.
Other States such as Maine, New
York, New Jersey, and Delaware have
signified their willingness to cooper
ate.
Ordinarily a college in q State us
,1ally applies to the Department seek
ing its cooperation, when sufficient in
terest has been shown in the plan in
several communities where ten or
more people have sought the instruc-
tion. For financial reasons, certain
colleges are not so able to engage
in the work as are others.
The advantage claimed for the new
home courses with local leaders and
equipment over the ordin-
ary correspondence courses is that
on'y small percentage Of those who
take the individual correspondence fin
ish it. Studying in group, with lab
oratory work and leader, seems to
stimulate the interest and add Soc
ial feature which lead the members
Of the group to follow the work con-
and complete it. Ex-
Deriments with free correspondence
courses show that while many individ-
uals gain advantage from them, many
others, because because the material
Is furnished free, do not feel the same
obligation to complete them as they
do when they pay substantial sum
IF money for the instruction.