3§ 



making the teaching of the elements .of agriculture, manual 

 training, or domestic science compulsory in all schools. But 

 it advises strongly that every effort be made for the proper 

 preparation of country school teachers to begin this instruction, 

 and that every encouragement and inducement be offered those 

 prepared to undertake it to introduce and carry it on in the 

 schools under their charge. 



The report of the committee also contains a programme 

 drawn up by Professor Mays for connected courses of study for 

 rural schools and for the industrial course in the consolidated 

 rural school, through the Agricultural High School to the 

 Agricultural College. This is based on the courses of study 

 obtaining in the rural schools of Wisconsin, which are probably 

 the most advanced in the United States of America, the 

 Minnesota Agricultural High School, and the collegiate agri- 

 cultural course of the Minnesota University, with certain addi- 

 tions and changes. The object kept prominently in mind in 

 preparing these courses was that of giving in each low grade 

 those practical things which promise to be especially valuable to 

 the pupil who drops out. 



Professor Mays points out with regard to elementary schools 

 that any given school in regard to agricultural instruction must 

 adopt a course suitable to its own conditions. Thus while a 

 teacher in a one-room school might take up a few of the nature- 

 study courses adapted to the first five grades, and some of the 

 courses in agriculture and home economics outlined for the sixth, 

 seventh, and eighth grades, teachers in a consolidated school 

 could undertake a great deal more of this work. 



He is of opinion that uniformity in all schools in work is not 

 a matter of the first importance. The main thing should be 

 to give more training to all, however early or late they may- 

 drop out of school. Making practical education universal in 

 the lower schools is the real problem, and the chief function of the 

 higher schools is to make possible more technical education in 

 the lower schools where all pupils may receive some benefit. 



The course suggested by the Professor is as follows. It is 

 given here because it is to all intents and purposes that of the 

 Wisconsin rural schools and of the Minnesota High School 

 and Agricultural College, and therefore has a practical value in 

 this place : — 



