45 



Primary Schools. 



Although any form of agricultural teaching was until 

 quite recently very limited indeed in primary schools, yet 

 Dr. True reports that by June, 1906, the number of 

 schools in the cities and large villages in which nature stud}/ 

 formed a part of the course was steadily increasing, and that 

 this movement was spreading to the rural schools. School 

 gardens were being more generally used in connection with such 

 instruction. Much work was being done by the State Depart- 

 ments of Agriculture, Agricultural Colleges, &c, to prepare 

 school teachers for giving elementary instruction of this kind. 



Several publications had also been issued from such depart- 

 ments for the purpose of helping teachers of elementary schools. 



As an example of what was being done, Dr. True quotes the 

 Farragut School, near Concord, Tennessee. This is a " con- 

 solidated " school organised by the consolidation of three 

 school districts. It is supported jointly by the Southern Edu- 

 cation Board, which has contributed about £700 sterling, by 

 the State tax levy for teachers' salaries, and by local contribu- 

 tions. The funds raised exclusive of teachers' salaries amount 

 to £1,600, of which £1,200 were spent in buildings. 



The building is 54 ft. by 80 ft., two stories high, and contains 

 six well-lighted schoolrooms and a large assembly room. There 

 is also an outbuilding used for domestic science and manual 

 training. 



The farm equipment consists mainly of a small poultry 

 house, with incubators and brooder, and a shed for horses. 

 The school has 12 J acres of land, 3 of which are for horticulture, 

 and 6 for farm crops. It is intended to make this a model rural 

 school in which agriculture, domestic science, and manual train- 

 ing predominate. There are five teachers. 



The attendance at the school has been considerably greater 

 than that of the three district schools out of which it has grown, 

 and the school promises to become popular. 



Instruction in domestic science and agriculture is being 

 given in a simple way, but with real success in about fifty 

 common schools for negroes in and about Norfolk, Virginia. 

 This is paid for out of a special private fund. Instruction is 

 given in woodworking, basket-making, cooking, sewing, and 

 gardening. 



