32 STATE BOARD OF AGRICOLTURE. 



DRAWING AND DESIGN. 



The Professorship in drawing and design made vacant bv the death 

 of Prof. Holdsworth, has recently been filled by the appointment of 

 Prof. Victor T. Wilson, who was called from a similar position in the 

 State College of Pennsylvania. Prof. Wilson is a graduate of Cornell 

 University. He is a successful teacher and the author of valuable text 

 books on Free Hand Perspective and Free Hand Lettering. 



During the vacancy in this position the work of the department was 

 ably directed by the first Assistant Professor, Chase Newman. Much 

 credit is due him for the success of the department during the past 

 year. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



In recent years there has been a groAving demand for the introduc- 

 tion of agricultural instruction into the public schools. The great ob- 

 stacle in the way has been the lack of qualified teachers. The college 

 has been appealed to on all sides to assist in this movement. Many 

 high schools are ready and anxious to introduce strong lines of work in 

 agriculture but teachers capable of giving such instruction cannot be 

 secured. The county normal training schools, of which there are thirt^'- 

 eight in the State, are trying to give agricultural instruction to the 

 young people who are preparing to teach rural schools. They need assist- 

 ance in this noble undertaking. 



The responsibility of leadership in this new and desirable field of 

 work seemed to lie with the Agricultural College. It is the only institu- 

 tion in the State prepared to give instruction in agriculture. It can- 

 not, of course, train teachers for rural or graded schools, but it can 

 prepare teachers for the county normal training schools, the high schools 

 and State normal schools. These in turn can train the teachers for 

 rural and graded schools. In this way a large number of teachers 

 within the next few years can be fairly well prepared to give instruc- 

 tion in elementary agriculture. 



The College, ever ready to meet the responsibilities which come to it, 

 has established a Department of Agricultural Education. Prof. Walter 

 H. French, who has ably filled for a number of years the position of 

 Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction has been placed in 

 charge and will direct and develop this department. The inauguration of 

 this new department has attracted attention throughout the country. 

 In an able paper read by President Thwing before the National Edu- 

 cation Association at Cleveland, mention was made of this department 

 as one of the important progressive movements in education during 

 the past year. 



BUILDINGS. 



The engineering departments during the past year have enjoyed very 

 much their new quarters. 



The new agricultural building is well under way but Avill not he 

 ready for occupancy before the Fall of 1909. A full description of this 

 building will be given after its completion. It may, however, be stated 

 here that it is of fireproof construction and will be when completed 

 the largest and best building on the campus. 



