The sun., 1916-03-05

.uch as Law and medicine and latterly
Engineering. tho school curricula have
pGcred as the highest goal for the am.
,;!ous pupil distinctly urban occupa-
koas. II has for some time been the
r-y OF reforiners In the public schools
ha, we start to educate all pupils as
they were going TO college. whereas
cnly about / per cent. actually docs 30
|IIen o the remarkable development In the
,,,,eg OF business and trade courses pre-
parne for immediate and effective par
lpatfon In CONNIE rcial or industrial life.
Thc country schools are rather more tard-
lr Introducing studies that will hold the
pupils on the soil and make them efIi-
ceat farmers. | wish TO put In a plea
| for Agricultural studies In the boarding
, hool that will present the attractions
AID possibilities of country life to both
,oea and country boys and place scien-
h 10 farming on the same professional
;lanc a. engineering.
This matter Is OF vast social inpor-
,ance Everything that We eat and
,early everything that We wear comes
rom the farm. Farming Is the greatest
and most important industry OF any
| country: IL Is the one indispensable in
,ustry We could make shin to DO with.
cut wheat. beef. milk. eggs. cotton. wool
aud q hundred other products OF the
farm We could not have lie at all much
f,,ss life abundan: with margin for In.
! lec,uai and spiritual development.
/ Vow farming Is not profitable on Broad
way or Fifth avenue. City life and
farming are not compatible though the
.,somoblle has brought to the farmer
tie opportunity OF enjoying many advan-
ages Of the city. For the good OF the
wlolc community there must i've large
'rosperous and contented farming class.
Not that am one OF the sentimentalists
I w.o want TO subsidize or coddle the farm
e.. wha, we need Is merely 10 edu-
tie him 20 USE scientific methods OF cul-
,ya;.on. III, his occupation from the
r,a!r, o. drudgery 20 that OF profess
scn, and introduce buyinesslike r9ethodS
ID! COS, accounting and niafiket:ag: 'Thef
~ NAY depend upon him to take care OF
..nsel. without assistance: he VIII no
|. ager sell his produce for less than u
costs 70 produce II. as many now do In
,.... ignorance, nor will he keep rob-
bt- cows In his herd: but he will raise
rs product as economically as 10 feasi-
de. ard he will demand and receive a
:A!r price for II.
Willie the danger of early speciaii1a-
.,on Is to be deplored. II - oes!rabit
,aat the 10y live in the atmosphere OF
Us future occupation from An cary
axe You can't expect the city boy VINO
has never seen COW until after Graduat-
ng from school TO become farmer.
,ven tacugh he may have had strons
.u-al aptitude for that way OF life
VIA. ! pl sad for Is courses OF study that
~ 4, ,'rose xho hnre already made
heir dec sion for the agricultural col.
...e o for immediate farming. and
hors q. an elective Lature mat VIII
'-rni. those who have no definite oc-
,4r4tlon IN mird TO sample agriculture
and learn whether they like II or no;.
Fr the regular courses there IL not
r.ch difficulty. Though there - s'iii
sA,rtase OF trained teachers because
,no uewrcss OF the subject IN the
..o.s plans OF study have been
!.l,..I ou, by Il. ". Stimson. Agent
go. Agricultural studies under the
Massachusetts, Commissioner OF Edoc".'
f... 1y Cornell Agricultural College ana
o. ~ ag,uc.os. Text books and other
B.. % for teachers have been produced In
,crsH,. - The demand OF the pubic
- soo.s that have introduced the sub
.,c, ~ OF these are available for the
'.,, ..n- schools AS we'll. i few general
rrir piles that should underlie thor
G!-l .ourse may bc laid down.
Alvut une-half Of the total time should
be .lEned to studies ard pracii"al
,vork u an agricultural nature and one
i! a.! 70 book subjects, suca US Eng!ish,
Z stpy and ,nathcn at.cs. fog purposes U:
! NERAL culture. Some part OF the prac-
! al work may wei be under SUPER
tendent in performing genera! farm
lores but certain part should issu'-
PIy he On spccit! project when 'he
LJy carries on for himself. under Gircc-
m Of course. but Of his own selection
tn his own money and at his own risk
!. pron, or loss. 4 careful. Industrious
|cy may earn a not inconsiderahle
mount In this way. An indolent pupil
sure To feel the penalty OF failure
ore promptly and moro keenly than
ans other way. The financial motive
a proper ono in vocational WorR.
The order OF studies in the Massachr-
Is plan. and none seems more teas-
BE, 10 Kitchen gardening. small animals.
klecially poultry. field crops and dairy
.. IN the four years Of the high school
grse. This presents several advantages
putting the subjects involving less
hvsical labor and less money In the
rllor years and pOstponing TIL the most
lvanced age possible the delicate prob
ms Of breeding. In the public schools
e projects usually have TO DO carried
NJ home and the instructor has to
~ each In turn on foot or motorcycle.
be boy who has no land at home 10
cany handicapped. The boarding school
great advantage In this respect. az
may provide land where all can have
lr projects close together and learn
ON the experience OF others. as well az
ng free from possibly antiquated ideas
"a, parents may impose In the absence
tie Instructor. The possession OF q
n. far from being burden to the
hool. may become a source OF great
ls:acLon and even revenue. Merely to
o~ that Ill the milk consumed Is pro.
ced under ideal conditions Is no mean
'acuOn. and because OF scientific cul'
Fa;!Dn u"d redrness OF farm to market
fs'deTabla saving Is likely to result
m producing vegetables and some
ats for the school consumption. with
posnibility of selling soma produce
Fs"!c if the farm Is large enough
Administrative difficulties Of course
ear ~ the Introduction Of new studies.
agriculture especially II II necessary
'a't much work In the summer II tho
10 !. 'p lie wholly practical. though
'H.. uray','s may Lc brought to an
u Juno as W'll AZ later. aud the
''. N"rr ~ the iirst year can be con-
d ~ relatively early varieties that
'.ttuc briorc ths summer vacation
'ciy lato ones that viii ripen after
'ol reopens IN the fall, Since the
|"'lc'' work during term time occu.
only one-half the time OF the pupil,
half OF the class working full time
cs"' dsly carry On all the practical
y In the summer. 90 that one-half OF
trEt uul third Ncar claRh..a can ha ON