THE FOREST SCHOOL AND THE EDUCATION OF 

 THE FORESTER.* 



By Hugh P. Baksr. 



The able English educator, Sir Horace Plunkett, in a recent 

 comparison between colleges of a certain class in this country, 

 gave expression to his observation of a well-marked change of 

 trend in the general preparation given our young men and women 

 before they enter a business or professional career. He empha- 

 sized the changed attitude of our people toward industrial educa- 

 tion, which is causing courses of study in high schools and col- 

 lege curricula generally to be so changed as to fit the young people 

 for not only future college work but for actual everyday service. 

 There is now a general belief, although not always expressed 

 clearly, that our young people should be educated, not for them- 

 selves alone, that they may earn — and spend or accumulate, but 

 to increase their practical usefulness — that they may be of in- 

 creasing service to the State. 



Many of those who directed the early development of our agri- 

 cultural colleges fortunately have lived to see that more than one 

 vital principle originating during the struggle which agricultural 

 education had for recognition is now being incorporated, or in 

 some instances is largely replacing older systems, and more than 

 any other cause has brought about the idea of educating our 

 young people away from themselves that they may accomplish the 

 most for others. Agricultural education has for its aim the im- 

 provement of the condition of every tiller of the soil ; the raising 

 of the profession of farming to the standard of other industrial 

 professions, and the ever enlarging investigation of plant and 

 animal growth and production that the energy of production may 

 be greatly enlarged yet conserved. The contact with and the 

 carrying out of such ideals on the part of young men has broad- 

 ened their vision and has influenced the attitude of every other 

 group of servants of the nation. 



The gradual development of great movements having for their 

 purpose the protection and perpetuation of the natural wealth of 



*Read before the American Forestry Association. 



