PREFACE. 



The introduction of Agriculture in the public schools of 

 many states in recent years has aroused a considerable discussion 

 relative to the purpose, scope, materials, and methods in teaching 

 this important branch of education. 



The great interest that has been taken by school children 

 in the State and National contests in raising crops, has demon- 

 strated that the practical side of agriculture has appealed to them 

 with even greater force than the study of mere fundamentals. 



The great demand of the rural teacher is to know what to 

 do to make the rural school interesting and attractive and at the 

 same time to make it an efficient factor that will help rural life 

 to keep pace with the demands of the age. 



There is also need of a more general knowledge of the 

 magnitude, productive power, possibilities and opportunities of 

 agriculture in the United States. 



More of the spirit of cooperation between home and school 

 will give to education a new field of material for the develop- 

 ment of methods of instruction. 



A study of agriculture in all of the states of the Union will 

 give broader views of life and help to lift agriculture to greater 

 heights in the field of universal interest. , 



The teaching of language, reading, history, physiology and 

 hygiene, geography and arithmetic may be made to have more 

 of the color of local environments of the rural school and thus 

 infuse new life into old subjects. 



The day of practical and technical vocational education is 

 upon us. In the U. S. according to reports, 93% of our school 

 children do not get any high school instruction. If they are to 

 receive anything of practical value to assist them in solving life's 

 problems in the production of one of the greatest of life's neces- 

 sities the things we eat it must be done before they leave 

 school. 



(iii) 



41C492 



