Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-04

he importance OF elementary AnSlEuC-
Gss in agriculture in the public schools
was never more generally appreciated
than at the present time. ..eJ the ESoO
wOrS so on for this phase II our school
work has been neglected too long. and
Yet IL is more fundamental than many
OF the subjects wkics. are taught at
great expense and effort 4 general
knowledge of agricultural principles is
the most important asset with which We
can endow our boys and girls. and while
the subject has always been regarded
as a very difficult one 10 teach. this con-
clusiOn has doubtless been reached on
account Of the supposed difficulty of Sc
curing the texts desired and the mate
rails needed for illustrative purposes.
These facts in themselves show how
thoroughly our educational system has
become of the rule OF thumb type, and
indicating a lack OF initiative on the
part of our instructors In other words.
the beaten path blazed out many years
ago when conditions were essentially
different from those existing now has
been followed with unerring faithful
ness The courses have been easiest
10 go with the crowd. Thus il is that
the method Of instruction in the rural
school has fallen grievously behind the
times, and We have neglected the fun
dameutals upon which a proper course
OF instruction for the boys and girls
living in a rural environment should be
founded Hence. instead of instilling
into the minds OF these young people
some OF the principles concerned in the
production of plant and animal life and
love and appreciation of nature. we
have been examining their heads full OF
doubtful facts which we are pleased TO
call history. and which chiefly deal with
the number Of men killed on this or that
occasion. and thereby pOrtraying in gen.
erous terms the high degree OF barbar-
ism which prevailed in that particular
era OF the wofld's history.
The idea that We can not teach some
OF the fundamental principles OF agri-
culture without encountering most Sc
riOus difficulties is a notion and not a
fact For instance. what more impor-
tant topic could be discussed with GeOr-
gia boys and girls than that Of cotton,
a plant which is grown on virtually
every farm IN the south There is a
wealth of material at hand to make the
necessary studies. and IL is useless to say
that the children will not De interested
and benefited by holding a series Of con-
ferences with nature and the products
from the soil from which they are eX-
pected to draw their livelihood in the
near future.
II has been pointed out over and over
that we need earlier and better matur-
ing varities Of cotton. and plants free
from disease and which do not possess
too many vegetative limbs. Certain types
OF lint are much 10 be prefrred TO 9TH
ers. and there is a marked difference in
the size. color and character or the
seeds How many teachers are pointing
out even as simple and elementary facts
TO their children as these2 How many
are explaining why the wide variation in
varieties of cotton eNisJ2 How many
teachers have made a study OF cotton
production in the vicinity OF their
schools In other words. what varie-
ties OF cotton are grown in the given
community concerned; which one Of
them seems 10 he best adapted TO the
soil and climatic conditions existing
there; which Is the least subject TO DIS
ease; which produces the largest num-
Der Of bOIls in proportion 10 the size OF
stalks: which opens its bolls the earliest;
which strain contains the largest num-
Der OF seeds per lock. and shows the
least variation as TO color and size;
which strain has the best length and
strength of staple2
Would not an inventory OF this kind
be worth a great deal 10 the boys and
girls in the rural community? II would
interest the fathers and mothers as well
and il would tend 10 inform the COM
munity about many simple though fund
amental facts relating 10 varieties OF
cotton and those qualities which are
most desirable. IL would not be neces-
sary in taking up this work 10 have a
textbook or 20 study the subject from a
highly scientific point OF view. or even
TO bring 10 the attention Of the children
any special facts relative 10 the botany
OF cotton except those OF the most gen.
eral nature
II is needless 20 say that there is a
wealth OF material at hand. and that
the boys and girls will be intensely in
terested in bringing samples of typical
cotton plants produced on their farm
and to provide the needed laboratory
material Certainly. there would be an
intense interest in the study Of subject
matter Of this character. Work of this
kind would teach the community 10