The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-02-17
Vocational Agriculture
IN Montana By M. J. Abbey
AAA AvAOAA ~~~AAO~ State Supervisor
State Supervisor

learns 10 90 Oy OOlnS. Inc SCuOOl
in which such work is done becomes
local agricultural college. 1t be-
comes the center of all the agricul-
tural activities of the county. The
man who is at the head Of this work
is trained agriculturist. He knows
the best practices of farming in Mon
tana. He is on the job twelve months
of the year. He belongs to the tax
payers of the county in which he
works.
Permit us to cite some things that
are now being done by upwards of
thirty men employed to teach voca-
|tional agriculture. One man this
winter was called out at eleven
o'clock at night to look after a sick
horse. Stock are vaccinated against
blackleg; seed is tested for germina-
ton; farm machinery is repaired;
the automobile is overhauled in the
farm shop; butter is made at the
school; farmers find a market for
their cream at the school Powell
county high school is the best ex-
ample); poultry is culled; milk is
tested; assistance is given to rural
school teachers; community meetings
bearing upon various phases of agri-
culture are held; specialists from the
college are brought to the counties
to work with the farmers; farmers
short courses from two to five days
in length are held at the school; unit
courses in dairying, poultry, farm
bookkeeping; tillage and summer fall
low methods are held; bulletins are
distributed to the farmers; through
the newspapers the farmers are in
formed of agricultural doings; boys
and girls club work is conducted un-
der careful supervision; livestock is
brought in to the community; assist
ance is given to various farm organi-
cations; the farmers are assisted in
organizing (Wibaux county is the
best example).
These are few of the ways in
which a vocational department of ag.
riculture functions in high school
The work of the Fergus county high
school at Lewistown under the dir
ection of Principal F. L. Cummings
and Instructor ]. w. Gray, would re-
quire more space than this entire
article If the agricultural work of thi.
school were to be written up. 1t mus
be remembered that this kind of ser
vice is given free to the people of the
state. For a school to employ an ag
ricultural instructor, someone viii
perhaps complain that it will increase
the tax levy for the school. Let u.
see. The average salary paid suct
Ia man is $4,000 per year. A stud,
iof the salaries paid the teachers o.
mathematics, science, history, for
eign languages. reveals that these
range from $500 to $4,000 ani
over for nine months work. NJ
doubt they earn this sum and more
but our contention is that the tax
payer has right to demand that
the high school shall at least teach
one subject that fits directly for his
calling. That there shall be a place
in each county where the farmer can
get immediate agricultural service
In the process of elimination would
it not be we'll to consider the sub.
stitution of essentials for non-essen-
tials? Would it not be we'll to con.
slider that school is the servant
Of the taxpayers and should teach
those subjects which will assist in
lessening the tax burden?