EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. XIX. April, 1908. • No. 8. 



The recent meeting in this city of the Department of Superin- 

 tendence of the National Education Association evidenced the grow- 

 ing interest in agricultural education among the educators of the 

 country. It was a recognition also of the position it has attained, 

 which entitles it to a place in the deliberations of the great national 

 association. 



The conventions of this Department of Superintendence are 

 among the most important annual gatherings of educators in the 

 United States. They hring together in large numbers the school 

 officers charged with shaping the policy of the scliools and adminis- 

 tering their funds, the State and county superintendents of public 

 instruction, presidents of colleges and normal schools, superintend- 

 ents and supervisors of county and city schools, principals of high 

 schools, teachers, and publishers of text-books. At the Washington 

 meeting nearly 1,600 persons were in attendance, representing every 

 State and Territoiy except Arizona, Nevada, and Porto Eico. It is 

 a matter of considerable significance, therefore, that this body 

 adopted a resolution declaring its belief " in the great value of the 

 study of agricultural subjects in the schools of the rural districts." 



The meeting was of importance furthermore from the organiza- 

 tion of a Department of Rural and Agricultural Education, as a 

 new department of the National P^ducation Association, coordinate 

 with the existing departments. The movernent in this direction 

 has been on foot for several years, promoted by leading representa- 

 tives of agricultural instruction who felt that the subject was en- 

 titled to representation in the national association, that it was broad 

 in its ' interests, touching those of education in general, and that it 

 would gain much from association with so representative a body, as 

 well as from the opportunity afforded for a broad discussion of its 

 problems and relationships. 



The establishment of the new department was authorized by the 

 board of directors of the association at the meeting in Los Angeles 

 last July. Little more than an organization was effected at the 



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