The Hope pioneer., 1922-03-30
WHAT DOES VOCATIONAL AGRI.
CULTURE IN THE HOPE HIGH
SHOOL MEAN TO. YOU?

An article entitled, Agriculture
in City School," referring to the
Rockford High School in Illinois,
found in the Breeders Gazette of
March 9, 1922, deserves special men,
tion from a vocational agriculture
standpoint.
Knowing somewhat of the condi-
tions in reference to Vocational Agri-
culture in Illinois, having spent
few years in that state and also gra-
duating from its State University, in
Agriculture, I can not wonder at the
enthusiastic reception of the Smith
Hughes or Vocational Agriculture
work in the larger high schools of
that state.
THE Wealth of Illinois is in her soil,
and her strength lies in it's intelligent
development. Draper. Those of us
who have passed out thru the door of
the College of Agriculture of the
University of Illinois with that in
scription above it, know too we'll that
DR.. Cyril G. Hopkins (now deceased)
Dean Davenport, DR.. Herbert D.
Mumford, and ]. D. Mosier were not
theorists in Agriculture.
Vocational Agriculture has a place
in the schools of Illinois because
there is no better subject that fits
into a system of things in an agri-
cultural state. Good land in Illinois,
is vaued from $3.50 to $50 an acre
and if it were not for the scientific
sriculture being taught there in its
schools and also practiced on the
farms, Illinois would not be able to
mold its own in an agricultural way
The Agricultural College in Urbana,
the Grange organization, the Farm
Bureau, the County Agent, Vocation
al Agriculture in its high schools, and
he Club Work as made the Agricul-
tural Illinois.
Ii Vocational Agriculture plays
such important part in the agricul-
tural affairs in Illinois and it's worth
is being seen more and more in its
larger city schools, the work being
given credit thru one of our great
est journals. the Breeders Gazette,
we ought to be able to see some
good in the work here. The Hope
High School is fortunate in being
one of the few high schools in the
stale offering Vocationa1 Agriculture.
The work here is being conducted in
exactly the same way as it is in Rock
ford, Illinois. Smith-Hughes work is
standardized and therefore is the
same in general nature no matter
"here you go. This being the first
year OF the work here, the agricul-
lure part OF Smith-Hughes is devot-
ed entirely to a specialized studv of
neld crops. In our farm shop work
the Junior High School boys have
been devoting their entire time to
ene essentials in carpentry, cabinet
work, and general repair. work In
other words their time has been de-
voted to more thinking and less
tlnkering." Farm metal work and re-
guar carpentry must come later in
the High School Shop work. In Mech
anlcal Drawing in connection with
the Farm Shop work, most of the
boys are now drafting plans for gar
ages and dairy barns. Next year we
will have our animal .lusbandrv which
which will include stock Judging
cam, and plans for Junior Inter-
national here. We have a county fair
ana two state fairs near by where
'hese boys can be sent each year to
compete with other teams. The third
year OF the work we have the Farm
."echanics, Machinery, Gas Engines
ana Automotfve Repair etc. The
Fourth year Farm management Sol,
Fertility, etc.
The Vocational Agriculture Depart
ment of the Hope High School is also
sponsoring Boys and Girls Cluh
WORK in this district. The younger
generation in this district will receive
an agricultural education if they de-
sire 1t. The Boys and Girls in the
Club Projects, who are not taking
the Vocational Agriculture in our
High School, the boys in the hi9h
scnool and in the community above
fourteen years of age in Vocational
Agriculture.
The Hope High School may be-
come one of the best vocational agri-
culture schools in the state thru it's
geographical situation and thru the
entnusiam that may be shown in sup
port OF the work here. We have al
ready received state and federal re-
cogn1tfon in being asked to fill out a