INTRODUCING AGRICULTURE INTO SCHOOLS 185 



INTRODUCING AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION INTO PUBLIC 



SCHOOLS 



[ Notes on Papers read before the Department of Nature-Study and Agricult- 

 ure of the California Teachers' Association in joint session with State- Farmers' 

 Institute, December 26, 1905.] 



The work of this section was inaugurated by an address by Dr. A. 

 C. True, Director, Office of Experiment Stations, U. S. Dept. of 

 Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



The. discussion of the address was led by Prof. E. W. Hilgard, who 

 pointed out some of the difficulties which must be overcome before 

 agricultural instruction can be successfully undertaken in the public 

 schools. 



One serious obstacle is the lack of properly trained teachers for 

 the work. 



Another, the lack of contributing home influences among the 

 people who would receive the immediate benefits of such instruction. 

 Parents who have not received agricultural training have little realiza- 

 tion of its value, and therefore look with little favor on its introduc- 

 tion into the already crowded courses of the public schools. 



Under existing circumstances children are being educated away 

 from the farm and something should be done to turn the tide back 

 again into its natural channel. Any law compelling all teachers, 

 whether prepared or not to teach agriculture must prove disastrous. 



As a beginning, inducements should be offered to teachers to pre- 

 pare themselves for the work of agricultural instruction and perhaps 

 later it should be made a condition of certification of new teachers. 



In the meantime much may be done by a few who, by reason of 

 special agricultural training, are already available. Such could 

 be employed as special visiting teachers in districts containing 

 several schools, where there is an .immediate demand for such 

 work. 



The earliest years of a child's life are marked by keenness of the 

 perspective faculties, and it is during this time that the foundations 

 of agricultural knowledge should be laid. 



T. (). Crawford. Supt. Schools Alameda Co., continuing the dis- 

 cussion, advocated the teaching of agriculture both in the schools 

 and in the homes. Recognizing the crowded condition of present 

 courses of study, he advised the cutting out of useless 'work still 



