The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-02-02
In The State There Are 395
Departments In 81 Counties
With $4,000 Enrolment.
IN. C. State Supervisor Of State
Supervisor of Vocational
Agriculture)

\N. ". Statc supervisor on State
Supervisor of Vocational
Agriculture)
Editors note: Here is valuable
material for high school debaters
and all others interested in estab-
ishment of vocational depart
ments m our high schools. Ashe
does not maintain a single agri-
cultural Department.
The program Of vocational ed
ucation IN agriculture has been
In operation as an integral part
OF the public school system in
North Carolina for % years.
Vocational agriculture was for
mally introduced in the high
schools Of North Carolina under
the Smith Hughes Vocational Ed
ucation act in 1917. In the school
year 1918-1919, there were q
schools in the State with an en-
rollment of 1923 students. Today
there are in North Carolina, 39s
departments of vocational agrl'
culture in 81 counties with an en-
rollment of approximately 3O,OO(
pupils This increase is evidence
of the work being carried on.
The courses offered the voca'
tional students in all-day and day
unit classes include along WIFI
vocational agriculture the core
subject, English, History, Mathe'
mates, etc. Courses for adult
farmers or evening class anc
part time students include sys'
teaatic instruction in practlca
farm problems.
Teach Proficiency
The chief function of vocation
al agriculture is to train al
groups of men and boys on the
farm for proficiency in the busl'
ness of farming. All students dc
practice work on their home
farms. l addition to the valuable
experience gained in this practice
work. the students are making
money on it. There were 2O,24z
productive projects completed by
vocational students during 1881
with a labor income Of 81, $751;
900 30. The increased value OF
improved practices carried ou'
by evening class and part time
students for 1888 was $7O7, IA
The farm shop is one of the
very interesting parts of the vo'
cational agriculture course. The
farm stop course includes all OF
the unspecialized mechanical &C
tivities that should be done or
the average farm such as farm
woodwork, home conveniences
forage work, motor work, SOL
dering, harness repair, rope work
and farm machinery. Through
the shop course the $4,000 farm
bows receive the training and
knowledge in the shillS, ideals
and appreciation that they need
to meet the mechanics problem
that the average farmer will have
to deal with. The shop work Is
at all times closely correlated
with the instruction given in the
agriculture course.
Science and At
Agriculture is both science
and an art. To farm successfully
one must know how to do various
things as we'll as they should be
done. It is in this practice work
that our students learn by doing
The projects is a required part OF
the years work for an agricul-
ture student. Each student should
be supplied with land or animals
or both, to give opportunity fol
practice work under conditions
which conform as nearly as pos
sible to farm conditions, in order
that they may learn to farm sue
cessfully. The students are grad
ed on production, production
costs and net profits.
In order to carry out the voca-
tional agriculture program sue
cessfully, the men who teach ag-
riculture must be both interest
ed and competent. Not only
must a teacher be able to carry
on classroom work, much OF
which is specialized, but he must
also teach farm shop, supervise
home projects, and carry on com
munity work such as arranging
and teaching part-time and even
ing classes, answering the farm
ers' questions, etc. In order fol
a teacher to discharge all of these
n ~