The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-17
SCHOOL FARMS IF. STATE SHOW GOOD
 RETURN FUR YEAR
More Than A Per Cent Of Pupils Come From Dis-
 tant Communities
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Montgomery. Ala June Ia

More than forty-four per cent of the total enrolment of the state sec ondary agricultural schools are not residents of the communities in which the schools are located, according to the annual report of the state super intendent of education on the work of the agricultural schools during the year recently ended. The report showed that the total enrolment of the 10 schools last year was 2,163 and that of this number 959. or 44.3 per cent of the pupils resided in other communities.
 A gross return of ss2,7s2.o5 was ob- tained from the school farms during the year, the crops being grown at a cost of $4o,774.o5, which left a net profit of $41,595. To this may be added s7,364.74, the amount paid the students by themselves for their own labor, which would give a total net income of $4s,s25.s3.
 Home Making k Taught.
 Each of the 10 schools offers a course in home making. Girls are taught to plan and prepare nutritious meals within the family income: to select. make and care for their to render first aid, and to care for the sick in the home; to assist in rearing children, and to use wisely and effectively time, energy and money in the management of the home
 All funds appropriated to the agri- cultural schools are devoted to giving courses in vocational agriculture vo- cational home economies and general science. When language courses are maintained the cost is borne by the local community.
 One-half of the school days of boys choosing vocational agriculture is de- voted to the study of agriculture, farm shop and farm work
 The scools are maintaining unit courses of instruction for adult farm CTS, extending over a period of six weeks. The farmers do actual farm ing on the home farm under the di- rection of the agricultural teacher. keep records on the crops grown and make reports on their farm activities at the end of the year.
 FOur-Yenr Course Offered.
 Every male pupil enrolled is offered four-years course in vocational agri- culture and each is required to devote minimum of two years to the study of agriculture. Of those enrolled 570 are pursuing the four-year course and doing actual dirt farming" at their homes under the direction of the teacher and 541 are pursuing or have pursued the two-year course.
 One hundred and seventy-two adult farmers are enrolled in evening classes and are taught agriculture by the teacher of agriculture.
 Community activities of the teach CTS of vocational agriculture in the 10 schools show that the teachers of vocational agriculture served TSP farmers in such farm activities as controlling insects, pruning, spraying, terracing, purchasing orchard stock, selecting seed. culling poultry fIocks, treating sick animals. grating, bud ding and purchasing fertilizers
 Of the 52S male graduates of tho schools during the past five years 251 are (June. 1923), actually farming and 175 of the 52S attended college last 'ess'oni seven out of everyrsen of those not graduating who attended the ag- ricultural schools last year are at present actually farming at home.
 The work of pupils of the school on their home farms is taking the place of work on the school farms. Funds are needed to convert the school farms into model demonstra- tion farms.