41 



V. 



THE PART-TIME AND PROJECT METHOD NECESSARY 



TO AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL 



SCHOOLS FOR MASSACHUSETTS. 



The present chapter outlines a method by which, it is believed, 

 education through the plan of " part-time work " in agriculture, 

 recommended in chapter IV., may be made effective. 



Under the " part-time work " plan, developed into a system 

 for the whole State, centers would be selected. The instruction 

 would be adapted to the kinds of farming prevalent in the dis- 

 tricts surrounding those centers. The practical applications of 

 the instruction would thus be subject to the obstacles continually 

 encountered under the economic farming conditions found in 

 any given district; just as they would, also, be aided by all 

 the influences in this Commonwealth which make for the im- 

 provement of farming. The plan, as an educational process, 

 is believed to possess unquestionable merit, because farming 

 activities would readily resolve themselves into what may be 

 termed farming " projects." 



A Farming Project is a Thing to be done. 1. Improvement 

 Projects. The thing done might contribute some element of 

 improvement about the farm, as constructing a concrete walk 

 leading to the front door, the planting and nurturing of shade 

 trees, the making and maintaining of an attractive lawn. 



2. Experimental Projects. The thing done might be of an 

 experimental nature, as the planting of an untried variety of 

 fruit, the feeding of an untried ration, the testing of an untried 

 spraying mixture, or the testing of one or another of much 

 advertised roofing materials. 



3. Productive Projects. Finally, the thing done might be 

 of a productive nature, as the growing of a crop of clover or 

 alfalfa, the growing of a field of potatoes, the growing of a crop 

 of silage corn, or the production of eggs for the market. 



A Farming Project is., further,, Something to ~be done on a 

 Farm, which would involve a Limited and Definite Amount of 



