Farmers' Wctk in Agricultural College. 307 



to always feel more like punisliiug the j^arents than the pupils, although 

 1 never tried the experiment. 



I could go on and on until you were all weary. That reminds me 

 of the saying, "Blessed is he who knows when to begin; but thrice 

 blessed is he who knows enough to stop." 



As an old teacher I beg and implore the Home Makers to visit the 

 schools and encourage and uphold the teachers. Parents will be more 

 than paid by the increased interest the pupils will take their studies. 



Thanking you for your attention to this rambling talk, I again plead 

 with you to visit the schools. 



HOME ECONOMICS IN RURAL SCHOOLS. 



(R. H. Emberson, Professor of Rural Education, University of Missouri.) 



I have been asked to make a talk on the subject 

 "Home Economics in the Rural Schools." During 

 the past twelve months the chief burden of my 

 message to the people of MiSxSouri has been the im- 

 provement of the rural schools, or, more properly 

 speaking, the rural school problem, and if I should 

 say some things this afternoon along that line, you 

 will please excuse me, because I do not wish to 

 discuss the subject assigned to another; it will be 

 due to the force of mental habit. 

 Prof. Emberson. Qne of the most significant facts in current 



educational history is the introduction of agriculture into the rural 

 schools. A great deal has been done in Missouri along this line during 

 the past year. It may be claimed that the subject was introduced at an 

 inopportune time; that it would have been much better to wait until 

 teachers could be prepared to present this subject in a satisfactory way. 

 While there is some force in this argument, still it would have taken 

 several years for the Agricultural College, the normal schools, and some 

 of the best high schools, all working together, to have prepared teachers 

 for this special line of work. Be that as it may, the subject has been 

 introduced. In the language of Grover Cleveland, "It is a condition, 

 and not a theory, that now confronts us. ' ' Elementary agriculture has 

 been put into the common school course in our rural communities and 

 the special problem now is to make it worth while. 



A prominent farmer in one of our southern counties asked me if 

 I encouraged girls to pursue this subject. My reply was that I did. 



