BOYS' AGRICULTURAL CLUBS in 



above 14 years of age. It will become the connecting link between the 

 agricultural-club movement on the one hand and the regular farmers' insti- 

 tutes for adults on the other (143). 



In 1909, 20 states and territories are reported to have held 

 institutes for young people. This system seems to be the best 

 organized in Indiana, where about one-third of the counties 

 have such institutes with an enrolment of over 12,000. The 

 young people's institutes are held at the same time as the farm- 

 ers' institutes but in separate sessions. The public is interested 

 as indicated by liberal contributions, one county appropriating, 

 in 1909, $1,000 for this work. 



The extension department of the Kansas State Agricultural 

 College is just introducing a correspondence school in connec- 

 tion with its young people's extension work. The object of this 

 is similar to that of the young people's institute, being designed 

 to help boys and girls who have been compelled to leave school. 



The boys' clubs of Kansas, whose work thus far has been 

 almost wholly confined to corn contests, are now being organized 

 on a somewhat different basis. The plan follows that of the Boy 

 Scouts of America and the clubs are known as the "Rural-Life 

 Scouts." Although just started, considerable interest is being 

 shown in these clubs. The leaders are generally principals of 

 village schools or pastors of village churches. In counties where 

 there is a Y.M.C.A. secretary, the organizations are affiliated 

 with the Y.M.C.A. work. 



The county superintendent of education and his teachers 

 have been an important factor in making boys' clubs a success, 

 whether under the auspices of the Government Demonstration 

 Work, state agricultural colleges, or state departments of educa- 

 tion. The work in large units, state or sectional, is really made 

 possible by successful work carried out by county superintend- 

 ents of schools or teachers in the various parts of the country. It 

 may be of interest at this point to give somewhat in detail a 

 concrete example of how a county superintendent of education 



