1 82 Agricultural Instruction in the Public High Scliools 



supplied free of cost an exceedingly good collection of common 

 rocks, although a nominal price would have been justified. Few 

 schools know where to send for graded samples of grains and 

 reliable samples of fertilizers. The many bulletins and reports 

 issued by the federal government and various states are invalu- 

 able for reference, but there is still great need for studies worked 

 out by the state colleges or still better by trained agriculturists 

 now in secondary work, adapted to the local needs of different 

 sections of the country. 



Conclusions and Summary 



A w^ise and far-reaching policy regarding agricultural educa- 

 tion in the public school system is highly desirable, both for the 

 sake of the efficiency of the work itself, and for the protection 

 of our present high schools. 



Legislative aid is beneficial ; legislative mandates are of doubt- 

 ful help. 



Local high schools can not hope to do as pretentious work 

 as the special schools because of the excessive cost of a large 

 plant. 



The special school may be able to work out cultural material 

 suitable for rural students better than the present high schools. 



The special school may become either a competitor of the 

 present rural high schools or an adjunct to the system we now 

 have in the wealthier states, crippling them in one case and 

 stimulating them in the other. 



Such available opinions as are based on personal experience 

 do not warrant the fear of the evil influence of the small vil- 

 lages in which the special schools so far have been located, when 

 they are not in the country altogether. 



The attitude of the colleges and universities toward the agri- 

 culture taught in the high school is as favorable as the character 

 of the work merits. 



Agriculture in the schools is a very unsettled and undeter- 

 mined thing. 



Agricultural instruction must be adapted to the community. 

 A general course will fit but very few places. 



