67 



the private school, of which the Mount Hermon School for 

 Boys, with its elective courses in agriculture, is the most prom- 

 inent example; the public high school, with some agricultural 

 instruction, of which there are said now to be twelve examples 

 in this State ; and the State-aided agricultural school of strictly 

 vocational character, of which there are now two examples, 

 the Smith's Agricultural School at Northampton, and the Mon- 

 tague Agricultural School at Montague. 



The principal present need, it is believed, is legislative provi- 

 sion of State aid for the establishment and maintenance, in exist- 

 ing high schools, of thorough-going vocational departments for 

 the preparation of boys, and perhaps some girls, for Massachu- 

 setts farming. In other chapters this report gives evidence that 

 farming in this State offers a good future to those who have been 

 properly trained for engaging in it, and outlines a method for 

 making agricultural education for those above fourteen years of 

 age vocationally effective. 



The present law provides State aid for independent agri- 

 cultural schools. This provision should be continued. But it 

 is believed that this legislation is not adequate for meeting the 

 immediate requirements of the State as a whole. 



Only One Rural School has become an Agricultural School. 

 Under the present law, only one rural school has been reor- 

 ganized, and converted into an agricultural school, the school 

 at Montague. 



But One School built, and that by Bequest. Moreover, but 

 one new agricultural school has been established, the school 

 at Northampton. Without the Oliver Smith bequest, it is 

 perfectly evident, to those who know the situation, that the 

 city of Northampton would not now have that institution. 



The school has drawn its students from sixteen towns outside 

 of Northampton, as well as from the city itself. It is in 

 reality a school for a considerable district, rather than for a 

 single city. 



In the natural course of events, Northampton, or any other 

 city with a considerable industrial development, would see it- 

 self well equipped for industrial training before it would, or 

 perhaps could, give a thought toward the establishment of an 



