STATES RELATIONS SERVICE. 577 



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elementary agriculture for rural schools, the summer schools in 

 North Carolina were visited and suggestions were made as to the 

 best use of the course of study in elementary agriculture prepared 

 for that State. Conferences were also held with the State super- 

 intendent of education and other officials in Arkansas in regard to 

 the use of the course of study in agriculture prepared recently for 

 that State. The departments of education of these two States re- 

 port that these courses are being used extensively by the rural 

 teachers. Courses of study in elementary agriculture for rural 

 schools in Oklahoma and Utah are now in the process of preparation. 



The division has cooperated closely with the teacher-training divi- 

 sions of the land-grant colleges through conferences and correspond- 

 ence. They have also been supplied with publications, lantern slides, 

 motion-picture films, and sources of information regarding other 

 helpful material. 



There has been an increasing demand from teachers of agriculture 

 in service for publications of the department and for information 

 regarding the sources of other materials needed in their work. Large 

 numbers of teachers have been furnished lists of publications of the 

 department best adapted to their needs. Teachers are realizing 

 more and more the value of the Farmers' Bulletins of the depart- 

 ment, not only for their own use, but for students as supplementary 

 reading in connection with their regular textbooks. These teachers 

 have also been supplied with large numbers of sets of lantern slides 

 during the year. Plans are being made to revise many of the sets 

 of lantern slides now in use and to prepare additional sets. 



The division keeps in close contact with new developments in agri- 

 cultural education by attending and participating in annual confer- 

 ences of State and National workers in this field. One member of 

 the staff attended the annual meeting of the National Society for Vo- 

 cational Education and conferred with teachers regarding progress 

 in the development of teacher-training programs and secured sug- 

 gestions relative to the practical value of certain publications pre- 

 pared by the division. Another member of the staff attended the 

 National Education Association and discussed the topic, "What 

 school credit should be given for school garden work in elementary 

 schools ? " 



A representative of the division attended and took part in the con- 

 ference called by the United States Commissioner of Education in co- 

 operation with the Federal Board for Vocational Education, which 

 met at Tuskegee, Ala., January 15 and 16, 1923. This was one of a 

 series of annual conferences which have been called during the past 

 three years, looking to a better standardization of the curricula of 

 the negro land-grant colleges. Much interest has been manifested in 

 these conferences by leading white and colored educators of the 

 Southern States. Reports were made on standards of equipment, 

 qualifications of teachers, actual funds available, and types of cur- 

 ricula. It is evident that these conferences are having a stimulat- 

 ing effect on the negro colleges. White and negro educators of the 

 South are realizing the need of raising the standards and of increas- 

 ing the efficiency of the negro land-grant colleges. The director of 

 the service addressed the conference on ." The importance of voca- 

 tional education under modern industrial conditions and the growing 

 demand for trained workers in agriculture and other vocations." He 



