Charlevoix county herald., 1919-07-18
TURN SOLDIERS
into FARMERS
Army Schools In France Proving
aSucceSS.
find MEN EAGER TO STUDY

EIaht Thousand Enrolled % Students
In University Attached 20 expedi-
tIonary Forces-institution Occupies
More Than 800 Structures-Aban-
doned Agricultural Schools In oceu-
pied Germany Taken over-Forty
Studies Offered.
Over In east central France there II
going on an American adventure In ed
ucation Of which very little has been
said over here. A university has been
established, with a college Of agricul-
ture and ten other colleges and farm
school. Two months ago 1t was an
idea today 1t has 5000 enrolled stu
dents; more than 5000 attend the
school, while extension activities reach
hundreds Of thousands of men In one
way or another. The university build
ing Is former American hospital near
the town of Beaume, In the famous
vineyard district Of Cote dor.
About the middle Of March host Of
young American soldiers came sweep
ing into the old hospital grounds from
all parts of the expeditionary forces.
They had packs on their backs, guns
In their hands, gas masks and "tin"
hats at their sides. They put on over.
alls, picked up hammers, saws, shOv.
els and picks, and made things ready
to 60 to school. They kept coming. SO
that now the university occupies more
than 800 structures, which called for
800 carloads Of material and equip
ment.
Idea Makes q Hlt
This was the work Of the army edu-
cation commission, In cooperation with
the department Of agriculture and va
rious state colleges and universities.
The idea made a hit with the soldiers
at once. Each week tens Of thousands
of them are In class or lecture rooms
established throughout the army. The
teaching staff from the home colleges
found the men eager to talk about
farming "back home," which was one
Of the objects Of the experiment. They
are satisfied by the interest displayed
In the class and by the fact that more
than 500 farmers clubs have been or
ganized, with a membership of fully
10000 soldiers. One day flying
squadron Of "city fellers'' came over
to the university to get some agri-
cultural DOPE" There was enjoyment
Of army pleasantly at first, but In the
end several Of the visitors confessed
themselves so interested that they. too,
soon would be In the school.
In many units of the expeditionary
forces farmer-sOldiers have chance
to 60 to agricultural schools which
maintain courses Of six to twelve
weeks and give instruction In several
fundamental studies. They are called
post and divisional schools. They are
usually under the general supervision
Of representatives Of the commission,
although the principals and teachers
are from the army. They are held In
all sorts Of places, wherever rooms and
equipment can be found. In Germany
abandoned agricultural schools In the
occupied territory have been taken
over. Even the land surrounding such
schools has been made use Of for prac'
tical work with crops. soil and gar.
dens. Sometimes live stock Is secured
for judging, but usually the classes
are taken to nearby farms for study
and observation Of the live stock found
there.
Forty Studies Offered.
Forty different studies are offered
the boys grouped In four general de-
artments-animal husbandry, agron'
omy horticulture and forestry and
rural economics and sociology. In ad
dition supporting subjects are offered
at other colleges Of the university.
In the first account Of this American
university to be received by the de
partment Of agriculture Prof. #. w
Beckman Of Iowa State college says
"The immediate results of the educa
tional program of the commission arr
worth while, but farseeing men expec,
even greater results In the future
Secretary Baker, In his address at the
university, said he believed that out OF
the commissions work would come q
permanent educational policy for thu
army, combining military training with
training for the vocations and for civil
life. Agriculturally the immediate re
suits will be large, for the farmer-sol
diers Of the expeditionary forces ar'
being stirred to a full realization ol
their opportunities and their obliga
tiOns In the rural field. They ar
thinking as they never thought befor'
about the rural tasks that await then
back home. and they are likely to 70
turn better qualified to deal with then
and with q new spirit toward them"