THE
CHEM AWA
AMERICAN
17
classrooms. Ideas that are worth anything must grow out of the com
mon things of the daily life. Abstract ideas are dreams. Get away
from book habits and teach real things.
It will take time and patience to adapt the “ Natural Course in Agri
culture” to the grades, but thorough co-operation of teachers and mem
bers of the board will improve wonderfully the agricultural instruction
in our Indian schools.
Each member will also report what was accomplished during the
past week; successes and failures of methods, etc., that they may be
discussed before the class.
The final end must be kept in mind, the table well supplied with
cereals, vegetables, fruits and dairy products to supply our bodies with
energy and our minds with power properly to expend in turn our energy
for future welfare; the cow well supplied with silage, hay and grain
that she may give us increase and an abundant supply of the dairy
products; plenty of hay and grain for the horse that he may bear our
burdens easily; roses, flowers, and velvety lawns surrounding a comfort
able cottage, making a place we call “ Home, Sweet Home;” the grow
ing of a large surplus of some crops for market to give means to clothe
the family, to buy furniture and machinery, and to erect necessary
buildings, etc.
We should give agriculture an important place in our schools, because
such a large percent of the people of the United States live in towns
and cities. About 70 precent of the people in Oregon live in the towns
and cities. They must live, and, therefore, farming is one of the most
profitable occupations of this state.
The teacher must be as much interested in agriculture as she is in
arithmetic to be a success in school work. Agricultural instruction and
farm practice must go hand in hand. No boy should be considered as
schooled unless he knows with other things how to make and properly
care for a garden, milk cows and drive ahorse. No girl should be
considered as schooled unless she knows with other things how to
properly care for a home, cook the meal and drive the scissors and
sewing machine. A boy’s knowing something of cooking and a girl’s
knowing something of agriculture should be encouraged. It is knowl
edge that comes handy.
(To be Continued?