AN UNTILLED FIELD IN EDUCATION 225 



there is no good reason why any college or uni- 

 versity graduate should not know more than he 

 does about the farm problem. There can be 

 little doubt that the interest in the farm question 

 is very rapidly growing, and that the universities 

 will be but meeting a demand if they begin very 

 soon to offer courses in rural social science. 



The arguments for rural social science rest, 

 let us observe, not only upon its direct aid to 

 the farmers themselves, but upon its value 

 as a basis for that intelligent social service which 

 preacher, teacher, and editor may render the 

 farming class. It is an essential underlying 

 condition for the successful federation of rural 

 social forces. Indeed it should in some degree 

 be a part of the equipment of every educated 

 person. 



It may not be out of place to add, in conclu- 

 sion, that instruction in rural social problems 

 should be placed in the hands of men who are 

 thoroughly trained in social science as well as 

 accurate, experienced, and sympathetic observ- 

 ers of rural conditions. It would be mischievous 

 indeed if in the desire to be progressive any 

 educational institution should offer courses in 

 rural social science which gave superficial or 

 erroneous ideas about the scientific principles 



