360 

 CALIFORXIA AGRICULTURAL EDUCAriOX. 



J-'oUowiiii;' are extracts from the report of the College of Agri- 

 culture and the Agricultural Experiment Station of the Univer- 

 sity of California, for the year ended June 30. 1913, showing what 

 is being done with regard to agriculture in the schools of Cali- 

 fornia : 



BOYS AND girls' CLUB WORK.' 



\ 



During the present year boys and girls" clubs have been organ- 

 ized in twenty-six comities. It has not been possible to learn the 

 exact number of clubs or of boys and girls reached through the 

 clubs. The boys and girls' club work may be said to have had its 

 inception at a meeting of the state association of city and county 

 superintendents, at Santa Catalina Island, in August, 1912, 

 though Mr. C. A. Stebbins, connected with the agricultural edu- 

 cation division from 1910 to July, 1912, had done some work in 

 the promotion of gardening in elementary schools through an or- 

 ganization known as the "California Junior Gardeners." 



A conference was held at Santa Catalina regarding the possi- 

 bilities in the way of boys ajid girls' club work for California ele- 

 mentary and grammar schools. 



As a result, the advantages of such work were agreed upon, and 

 the advisability of utilizing agricultural and domestic science clubs 

 as a factor in elementary education and as a socializing and edu- 

 cative influence in school comnnmities was made clear. The su- 

 perintendents were encouraged to start the organization of the 

 clubs in the schools in their respective counties and were informed 

 that the division of agricultural education would be glad to do 

 everything possible to assist them in promoting the work and use- 

 fulness of the clubs. 



P)y cooperation between the state and county superintendent of 

 schools, state and county fair officials, and this department there 

 is no doubt that an excellent system of club work can be devised 

 and put in operation. That the results will be worth while seems 

 sure. Wherever boys and girls' club work has been wisely or- 

 ganized throughout a state it has not only proved of value to in- 

 dividual boys and girls and as an aid in agricultural instruction, 

 but it has been an effective and wholesome method of inciting a 

 keener interest in the affairs of scientific agriculture among adults. 

 It has, to a greater or less degree, an inevitable influence upon 

 the work of adult fanners. The father can not help catching 

 some of the enthusiasm of the boy when he sees the value (^f 

 better farming methods demonstrated to him. 



Mase in administration of clul) w<>rl< can be secured l)y making 

 the county the unit for contest work. Tliis will also make pos- 

 sible a variety in the nature of the contests, so that the cliildren 

 can engage in those activities of greatest local importance. The 



