No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 657 



high schools where we can have our children with us all the time 

 they are acquiring an education. Not graded schools where eight 

 grades are taught with a like number of pupils, but where one 

 grade or two grades are taught by a teacher thoroughly equipped 

 for that grade. We want all the children conveyed to school in 

 comfortable conveyances by a responsible person of high moral 

 standing. I heard just the other day of the children in a certain 

 precinct in a large city being taken out into the country to school 

 and how their health was improved and their average standing 

 in studies increased and how much good it did their morals, too, 

 to come in contact with the beauties of nature. Now, if it will pay 

 a city to do this, why will it not pay us to do likewise? Just so 

 long as we hold the dollar higher in esteem than we do the boys 

 and girls, just so loug will we have to be confronted with the present 

 conditions. The cost would be somewhat greater, but the results 

 would be so much better, because the pupils and the teachers could 

 co-operate with each other both as to methods of instruction and 

 controlling the pupils. We do not care so much for fine buildings, 

 although all buildings must be comfortable, well lighted, heated 

 and ventilated, and pleasantly surrounded. 



But we do want good teachers, those that know their work and 

 have the faculty of diffusing knowledge, those that have every boy 

 and girl on their minds, that are under their charge, that they may 

 know just what they need, those that love the profession and have 

 not chosen it as a stepping-stone. We have many good teachers in 

 the country and many that are true to their calling but they can not 

 do their work successfully when so much is required of them. I 

 know of a teacher that has fifteen pupils and eight grades. She 

 told me that it was just impossible for her to control the pupils, let 

 alone try to teach them. There is no interest in this school because 

 it is almost out of the question to become interested when there is 

 no rivalry. The teacher is a most excellent teacher and she often 

 sits up till 2 o'clock trying to prepare work for the various grades. 

 This is just one case I could cite you of the many that are even worse 

 off than this school because they have not so good a teacher. 



Do let us think of this subject and see if there cannot be a great 

 change in our district school. We can have better schools in the 

 country than in the towns because we have better surroundings and 

 pure influences. Let us do all w T e can to improve our schools so as 

 to keep the boys and girls with us on the farm. And let us see that 

 they have a good practical education. In the State of Missouri, 

 teachers are required to be examined in agriculture before teaching. 

 I know of no study that would be of so much interest and benefit 

 to the children on the farm as simple lessons on nature and her 

 secrets. Agriculture is the first and noblest of all occupations. 

 There is no occupation in life in which we are brought in such close 

 touch with nature and nature's God as the tilling of the soil. There 

 is no occupation in life that we are so free from temptation, and 

 enjoy so much of the real good things of life as on the farm. Per- 

 •haps some would challenge this statement, but I would be glad 

 to argue on the beauties and independence of the farmer's life. 

 I know we have to work, but where is there a successful life that 

 does not work? Let us be loyal to our calling and teach the boys and 



42—6—1905 • 



