AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AT THE WASHINGTON 

 MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SUPER- 

 INTENDENCE OF THE NATIONAL 

 EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 



By DICK J. CROSBY 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture 



A pretty good indication of the growing demand for education 

 in terms of the environment of the children may be found in the 

 emphasis given to agricultural education for children in rural 

 communities in the program of the Department of Superinten- 

 dence of the National Education Association at its convention in 

 Washington, D.C., February 25, 26 and 27. The Assistant Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture and the United States Commissioner of Educa- 

 tion in their greetings at the opening session referred to the grow- 

 ing interest in and importance of agricultural education. The 

 principal address at the first evening session was by Hon. Willet 

 M. Hays, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, on Agricultural 

 Industries and Home Economics in Public Schools, in which the 

 feasibilitv of providing a unified scheme of instruction in these 

 subjects extending from the primary grades through the high 

 school to the agricultural college was clearly shown. Professor 

 Havs also explained the purpose and probable effect of pending 

 legislation for the encouragement by the Federal Government of 

 mechanic arts and home economics in city schools and agriculture 

 and home economics in agricultural high schools. 



On the third day of the convention the forenoon session was 

 devoted to a Round Table on agricultural education. Dr. A. C. 

 True, Director of the Office of Experiment Stations, outlined 

 broadly the educational work of the U.S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture. Dr. E. E. Brown, U. S. Commissioner of Education, in giv- 

 ing some notes on the training of teachers of agriculture, reiterated 

 his firm conviction that this subject must eventually be taught 

 in practically all schools for country children, and discussed pend- 

 ing legislation for the encouragement by the Federal Government 

 of instruction in agriculture, mechanic arts and home economics 

 in State normal schools. He pointed out that Federal aid to col- 



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