answer this question in the affirmative, take our advice and let the home garden 

 alone and start a school area, which can be easily supervised. We urged the home 

 visit in the last issue of the "Supplement" and speak of it again as we believe 

 it is the only way to get active participation on the part of the boys and girls. 

 Teachers visit the home gardcits. 



SCHOOL AGRICULTURE. 



Agriculture, as a vocation, is practiced for its own sake. Agriculture in the 

 schools is a means to an end, namely : to direct the attention of boys and girls 

 toward nature' and her activities through growing plants and animals. By so 

 doing the children find recreation, both as children and as adults; they learn to 

 meet new problems successfully for themselves and their neighbors; they acquire 

 a taste for beautification of school and home; they obtain a fund of experiences, 

 which largely formulate their spiritual and biological point of view ; they become 

 interested in the farmer and his work ; they become producers. 



Can a normal school graduate teach such agriculture, although at first glance 

 she may seem illy prepared? Certainly. Is a normal school teacher so illy pre- 

 pared to teach education through agriculture? Granted she is not ready to step 

 between plow handles and teach the boys and girls to plow nor is she prepared to 

 demonstrate to boys and girls how to cultivate and dig potatoes, yet because of 

 her opportunities in training, she is prepared to set before her pupils and the 

 patrons of her school the best things which are in print, the best things with 

 which she is conversant. Normal schools are favored institutions. They are well 

 equipped in tN^pes — sanitation, recreation, literature, art, agriculture, and the like, 

 and their faculties are skilled in interpreting these types for their students. The 

 students are prepared to project these best types as they work in their several 

 communities. 



Is a certified teacher too illy prepared to teach agricultural education? No. 

 First of all, each should orient himself, and second, each should attempt but a 

 few projects. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR CORRECT ORIENTATION. 



1. Agriculture in education is a means to educate children through agriculture; 

 to teach boys and girls how to meet new situations successfully for themselves 

 and their neighbors. 



2. Survey the environment in which you are working or expect to work. What 

 are the people doing? What plants and animals are being grown? Are they 

 being grown successfully? What is the condition of the homes? Do they need 

 beautification? Are they sanitary? Are you satisfied with the appearance of the 

 schoolhouse and yard, etc. 



3. Adjust yourself to the needs of the people and to their understanding. Do not 

 announce that you are going to teach agriculture to your boys and girls, many of 

 whom come from farm homes. Get results through doing things. Convince these 

 judges after a term's work that ''agriculture" which you have disguised is abso- 

 lutely necessary in the curriculum of the school. 



Properly oriented one or more of the following projects may be attempted : 



1. Beautification of home and school grounds. 



2. Home and school gardens. 



3. Hygiene and sanitation of the home and school and farm. 



4. An agricultural club. 



