The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-05-10

HOW TO vITALIzE THE TEACHING
OF AGRICULTURE
By Prof. p. @. Holden


II can be solved in but one way:
Rotate the subjects.
This will prevent skimming, and
repetition; il will sustain interest
keep the subject alive.
The teaching of agriculture in
rural schools will never be sue
cess so long as we teach the same
thing over and over again, year
after year, or allow the teacher to
skim all the branches and leave a
subject barren and uninteresting for
the teacher who follows next year.
In one-room schools all children
in the lower grades become as
familiar with subjects taught in the
seventh and eighth grades "a do
their older brothers and sisters. BY
rotating the subjects a new field is
opened to the public each year.
Rotation Of subjects means the
teaching Of but one class Of subjects
each year, such as:
ist year. Farm crops-corn, al
falfa. weeds, seeds, gardens, and for
girls. sewing, etc.
2nd year The making Of things
tying and splicing rope, cement
work, making fly traps. screens, can
ming, etc.
3rd year. Animals - live stock,
feeding. testing milk, diseases and
remedies, cooking. etc.
9Th year. Soil and Home-saving
moisture. rotation OF crops, soil fer
tility, sanitation, flowers, pictures,
etc.
Rotation Of subjects: Enables us
to teach more agriculture; elimi-
mates repetition: gives us a new
subject each year; keeps interest
alive and keen: does not kill the
subject by skimming or teaching the
same thing over and over again;
makes the directing of the work
much easier for the County Super
intendent who always has more
than he can do. Insead OF having
several lines Of instruction to pre-
pare each year he will have but one.
Agriculture will ultimately be
taught in all rural schools. In Ok
lahoma, it is required by the state
constitution, in other states by law.
Some states have tried it, but in =
hit-and miss fashion. They have
skinned through books /; taught
words. not things repeated the
same subjects every year; killed in
terest: made agriculture a dead
letter.
II we would teach agriculture in
a way TO bring the best results, we
must keep il alive must develop
interest - must rotate the subjects.
Agriculture cannot he successful
~ introduced in all the rural schools
in any state or any county at the
same time. 10 must grow into the
schools. That is the basis Of the
plan adopted in Oklahoma.
They selected twelve County Su-
perintendents who are live wires.
These superintendent held three
day meeting, studied how to teach
a few definite things and collected
the necessary demonstration mater
ial.
Each Of these superintendent Sc
lectcd from four To a dozen Of his
best teachers in whose schools
Agriculture is being taught this
year. These teachers were given
special instruction at the Teachers
Institutes.
When the school year opened, the
County Superintendent and his as
sistants visited one Of these schools
and assisted the teacher in starting
the work right. Then a second
school was visited, and third, and
so on. There are only few teach
ers to look after this year. The work
of the superintendent is simpliiied.
concentrated. made more effective.
Next year other counties and other
schools will be added. Agriculture
will grow into the schools. In four
or five years il will be taught in
every rural school in the state-and
taught in the right way.
We cannot put agriculture into
all the schools at once. Its teaching
is essentially a matter OF growth
and development.
We cannot vitalize agriculture in
the rural schools except by rotating
the subjects.
And the word agriculture" Is
used here To mean anything pertain
ing to the life and welfare Of the
children and the people of the COM
munity - health. sanitation, social
conditions, home conveniences,
community interest, as well as the