652 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



equipping the schools with suitable apparatus. There is also the further 

 difficulty that the teacher of the single room school, even though capable 

 in this new line of study, has not the time necessary in which to give 

 the instruction unless vacation and holiday periods are utilized for 

 the purpose, and the vast majority of rural school districts are not 

 financially able to support an additional teacher. The consolidated rural 

 school, however, promises to overcome some of the chief difficulties that 

 have hitherto hindered the development of this work, and is now opening 

 the way for the introduction of the teaching of agricultural subjects 

 into the country schools. 



THE PURPOSE OF THE MOVEMENT. 



The purpose in this movement by the elementary schools, so far as 

 it has definite aim, is to awaken in boys and girls an interest in farming 

 and domestic operations by bringing them to see and appreciate the 

 beauty, independence, and general desirability of rural life. By the 

 proper study of these subjects mental culture can also be secured as 

 effectively as by the exclusive use of the so-called disciplinary studies, 

 while at the same time a broader view and better apprecitaion of life 

 is imparted to the pupil. 



boys' and girls' clubs. 



As a part of the course in education for children of public school age, 

 a system of "clubs" has been organized in many sections by rural teachers 

 and county superintendents of schools, intended to interest the pupils 

 in country life and at the same time be of service in preparing them for 

 them for their future work, whether that work be on a farm or in 

 some other occupation or profession. The club is usually composed, 

 both as to membership and officers in immediate charge of the work, of 

 children in the public schools. The organization, however, is subject to 

 general oversight by the teacher in charge of the school. The club activ- 

 ities are mainly in the form of contests in judging grains and animals, 

 with some field work, such as growing corn, potatoes, or similar crops. 

 The field operations are restricted to quite small areas, and to compara- 

 tively few varieties of products. The fact that the work for the most 

 part is confined to young people who are in the rural schools, practically 

 limits it to children under 14 or 15 years of age, and the agricultural 

 teaching during this period, whether in class or through the agricultural 

 clubs, is of necessity restricted to such instruction as the young woman 

 in charge of the school can find time to give outside of her many other 

 duties as teacher of the regular and specified studies that the curriculum 

 requires. 



1/, as statistics show, the education of the country child with few 

 exceptions ceases with the rural school, it follows that the great body of 

 young people of the country are left without special training that will 

 give them practical acquaintance with the business operations of a farm. 



