UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



| BULLETIN No. 346 flEl 



Contribution from the States Relations Service *>«— .1 



A. C. TRUE, Director JfC^*^?^ 



Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER February 21, 1916 



HOME PROJECTS IN SECONDARY COURSES IN 

 AGRICULTURE. 1 



By H. P. Barrows, Assistant in Agricultural Education. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

 Introduction 1 



Development of the home project idea 2 



Essentials of a successful project 4 



Page. 



Some project outlines 8 



Some project problems 18 



INTRODUCTION. 



Elementary agriculture is taught in a large number of high schools 

 in much the same manner that academic subjects are taught. It is 

 evident that the aim in these classes is to arouse interest and to 

 give information about farming. During the last two or three years, 

 however, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of 

 schools which are conducting more extensive courses in agriculture. 

 Most of the schools which devote more than one year to this subject 

 employ a teacher who has had special training in agricultural sub- 

 jects. A recent investigation made by the States Relations Service 

 revealed the fact that the predominating aim in these schools is 

 vocational — i. e., that they are attempting to train their students 

 for actual farm practice. In the attempt to make the teaching of 

 agriculture practical teachers and school officers have met with dif- 

 ficult problems. Many have felt that the only solution of the prob- 

 lems of practical work is for the school to own land upon which the 

 student might see a demonstration of principles and put into prac- 

 tice what he learns. The school farm has not solved the problem 

 satisfactorily for all and has presented new problems which are 



i Prepared under the supervision of C H. Lane, Chief Specialist in Agricultural Education, States 

 Relations Service. 



Note. — This bulletin gives information regarding the home-project plan of teaching agriculture and is 

 of interest primarily to teachers in secondary rural schools. 

 17149°— Bull. 346—16 1 



