RURAL SCHOOL EDUCATION. 



TEACHING. 



Course 94, School Gardening, was omitted during the year 1909-10 

 because a prerequisite course was made for it in the Department of 

 Horticulture. 



EXTENSION. 



Decided progress has been made during the past year in the work of the 

 extension of agricultural knowledge to the rural schools in New York 

 State. In order to place the relation between the State College and the 

 rural schools on the strongest basis possible, the department has worked 

 with the State Education Department, the school commissioners, the 

 teachers and pupils of the public schools, grangers, agricultural clubs, 

 and the like. These persons were reached by means of correspondence 

 and through a monthly publication, '' The Cornell Rural School Leaflet,'' 

 which during the year was sent to over 70,000 persons. Through the 

 pages of the Leaflet were given lessons in pedagogical form relating to 

 country life, for use in the schoolroom. The lessons in elementary agri- 

 culture were prepared by specialists in the dififerent departments in the 

 New York State College. Nature-study lessons from the viewpoint of the 

 naturalist were also given. The importance of industrial education and 

 of wholesome recreation was emphasized. 



Special editions of the monthly publication were prepared for boys and 

 girls. In these Leaflets effort was made to encourage children to organize 

 clubs in their home districts and to work together in learning some things 

 to deepen their interest in the out-of-doors and to give them more extended 

 knowledge of farm life and work. Special problems were sent to the chil- 

 dren from the College. The young persons were encouraged to write 

 directly to the College for information regarding their study. Thousands 

 of letters were received and answered during the year. 



On January 29, " Corn Day " was held in New York State to increase 

 interest in the improvement of corn. Several schools celebrated this day, 

 the boys making selection of good ears of corn and exhibiting them 

 at the schoolhouse, and the girls preparing simple foods made from 



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