PART I. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION 



Organization of Vocational Agricultural Education in Penn- 

 sylvania. Public vocational agricultural education in Pennsylvania 

 is organi/cd somewhat differently from the way it is in other states 

 of the I'nion. In 1 U U Mr. L. H. Dennis, State Director of Voca- 

 tional Education, visited the various kinds of schools in the states 

 that led in agricultural education. As a result of his study he or- 

 gani/ed the "Rural Community Vocational Schools" of Pennsyl- 

 , ania. These schools differ from the County High Schools of Mas- 

 <achusctts and Wisconsin, and from the Congressional District 

 Schools of Alabama and (ieorgia in that the rural community vo 

 .-ational school is established where it may serve a rural community 

 rather than have its sphere" denned by arbitrary geographical lines. 



Since the rural community vocational schools were designed 

 -pccially to meet the needs of 'farm boys and girls it was decided 

 that the underlying purpose of the instruction offered should be to 

 prepare for a more productive agriculture and happier rural living. 

 The schools are of high school grade, although boys and girls over 

 14 years of age may pursue vocational agriculture or vocational 

 home-making without having completed the eighth grade. These 

 vocational courses are required of all pupils for the first two years. 

 After that they may continue the vocational work for two more 

 years, or may elect college preparatory work. In the vocational 

 courses half of the time is spent in vocational work and half in 

 general education and in related subjects. 



\ ocational agricultural education is also given in Pennsylvania 



in high school departments of agriculture as is the case in New 



York and other states. In Pennsylvania there is little difference in 



the quality and character of the agricultural education given in the 



rural community vocational schools and in agricultural departments 



in general high >chools. In the latter schools the work, however, 



tional to boys. Agricultural education in both kinds of schools 



rgani/ed under the I : ederal Vocational Education Act of 1917, 



- administered bv the Federal Hoard for Vocational Education 



