66 



VII. 



AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS IN PUBLIC HIGH 

 SCHOOLS THE PRINCIPAL PRESENT NEED 

 IN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICUL- 

 TURAL EDUCATION. 



The foregoing chapters of this report have been devoted 

 largely to a description of various features of the work of the 

 separate agricultural school and of the agricultural department 

 in the public high school, as being the two types of training most 

 desirable for a system of agricultural education in this State. It 

 is the purpose of the present chapter to discuss the probable part 

 which each may be made to play in such a system, and the special 

 need of the agricultural department. 



To-day in Massachusetts there are three kinds of agricultural 

 education : one for adults ; another for children ; and a third for 

 pupils of high school age. 



Adult Agricultural Education. Agricultural education suit- 

 able for adults was the first to receive attention, and has been 

 most elaborately developed. It now includes public exhibitions, 

 lectures and demonstrations ; books, periodicals and papers ; field 

 meetings held on farms, movable schools and better-farming 

 trains ; correspondence instruction and college courses. Among 

 the most active agents in promoting this work for adults are the 

 State Board of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College. 



Elementary Agricultural Education. The place of agricul- 

 ture in the education of children is discussed in chapter XL, 

 where it is shown that promising beginnings have already been 

 made in teaching elementary school children certain rudiments 

 of agricultural fact and practice. The State normal schools 

 and interested superintendents of schools have been the most 

 active agents in this work. Valuable assistance has been given 

 by the Massachusetts Agricultural College. 



Secondary Agricultural Education. Agricultural education 

 suitable for pupils of high school age is found in three forms: 



