Present Requirements in the United States in 

 Instruction in Nature Study and Elementary 



Agriculture 



Elliot R. Downing 



Early in the year a letter was sent to the Superintendent of 

 Public instruction or equivalent official in each state and territory 

 of the United States, requesting information as to whether or not 

 Nature-Study and Elementary Agriculture are required to be 

 taught under their several jurisdictions. A copy of the prescribed 

 or suggested Course of Study in these subjects was also requested, 

 if such was published. Replies were received from every state 

 and territory but two; and the desired information was obtained 

 from prominent members of our Society in these two cases. The 

 data so secured was tabulated and a copy of the tabulation was 

 sent in July to each Superintendent of Public Instruction for 

 his approval, if correct, and his revision if in any way inaccurate. 

 The information given in the tabulation below should be therefore 

 temporarily dependable. In some states the teaching of Agri- 

 culture and Nature-Study in the schools is mandatory by specific 

 legal requirements. In others it is required by the state Educa- 

 tional Department. This distinction is indicated in the tabula- 

 tion. Unless stated that the requirement is by law, it is to be 

 inferred that it is merely a requirement issued on the authority 

 of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In some cases 

 there may be error on this point, a legal requirement existing where 

 none is stated, as the letters received were not always absolutely 

 clear on this matter. 



Tabulation of 

 Agriculture 

 Territories 



Requirements in Nature Study and Elementary 

 in the Graded Schools of the Several States and 



297 



