DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 97 



The .somewhat abstract subject of economics is in this way given a cou- 

 creteness and reality for teaching purposes. Tlie worth of this con- 

 creteness has been ascertained to some extent by this department 

 througli presenting during several years past the subject of environ- 

 mental resources as a preliminary to elementary economics and the 

 exjterience gained here and tlie demand for the subject seemed to war- 

 rant tlie offering of a course in Agricultural T^couomics for the next year. 



The subject matter of the new course is here given as presented in 

 the college catalog, "Agricultural econoinics is an advanced course 

 which makes specific ap])lication of economic princii»les to the problems 

 of agriculture. Farm organization, markets and transportation and 

 credit facilities and the social aspects of farming are the chief questions 

 discussed. Lectures and text book." The subject requires as a prere- 

 quisite Economics 4 and is given 2 hours ])er Aveek during the fall term. 



The material equipment of the dejiartment has been added to but 

 slightly during the past year. Some historical pictures were purchased 

 during the early part of the year and were framed and put upon the 

 walls of the class room. Some copies of excellent historical photo- 

 graphs, and a large Stanford, Orograpliical ma]) of Xorth America have 

 also been procured. The department has also found a plan for se- 

 curing illustrative material of an economic and historical character for 

 class room walls having the merit of necessitating no costs of any sort. 

 This is through the use of the framed illustrations employed for adver- 

 tising purposes by railroads and many large industi"ial enterprises. 

 Through the kindness of Mr. Frank Hendrick, of Detroit, several of 

 these advertising pictures have been sent prepaid to the college. 



The administrative duties of a general or college chnracter wh.ich 

 have increased so rapidly in recent years through the growth in number 

 of college students are not directly assumed by the different depart- 

 ments as departmental functions ; nevertheless they consume so much 

 time of the department members that some mention of them seems 

 imperative in a dei)artmental report. ]Mr. Kyder, my associate, for ex- 

 ample, in addition to carrying on his regular work in history and jjoliti- 

 cal science is also the class officer for the freshman class, a member 

 of the permanent conmiittees on excess credits in the Agricultural course 

 and in the Home Economics course, and, during the winter term of this 

 year, was acting secretary of the faculty. 



As class ofHcer he had general supervision over ap])roximately 200 

 freshmen, holding conferences with such members as needed guidance 

 or eucouragemcnt, keei)ing account (»f their credits or deficits and jter- 

 forming the work of classifying them at the beginning of each term. 

 His work upon the two standing committees consisted chiefly of not 

 infrequent consultations. The labors of the class officer became steadily 

 more difficult, not only on account of the growth in size of the various 

 classes, but also on account of a growing tendency on the part of some 

 teachers to throw class rooin discipline to some extent upon these offi- 

 cers. The responsil)ility at any rate has become so large that it may 

 easily be estimated that for the large classes at least fully a quarter 

 of a class officer's Avorking h(»urs is taken up with administrative duties. 



The administrati>e duties which have fallen to the head of the de- 

 partment are the chaintianship of the social committee, and, until re- 

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