XVI. Number 2 The Ohio State University Bulletin College of Education ANNOUNCEMENT OF COURSES IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION August, 1911 Published by the University at Columbus Entered as second-class matter November 17, 1905, at the postoffice at Columbus, Ohio, under Act of Congress, July 16, 1894. THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. The Ohio State University, located in Columbus, is a part of the public educational facilities maintained by the State. It comprises seven colleges : The College of Agriculture, The College of Arts, Philosophy and Science, The College of Education, The College of Engineering, The College of Law, The College of Pharmacy, The College of Veterinary Medicine. The University publishes a bulletin descriptive of each College. Copies may be obtained by addressing W. E. Mann, University Editor, Columbus, Ohio, and stating the college in which the writer is interested. The University opens for the academic year, 1911- 1912, on Tuesday, September 12. Entrance examinations for those required to take them will be held from Tues- day to Saturday, September 5 to 9. “Agriculture is the Oldest of the Arts, and the Most Recent of the Sciences*” POPULAR EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE. Agriculture is the most recent of the sciences; and through the application of its principles to the produc- tion of food, clothing and shelter for man, or to the sat- isfying of his esthetic desires, the most ancient art of agriculture has had a new birth. From this grand old industry, forty millions of our people daily draw their wealth and inspiration for higher and better living. Without this basic source of wealth, our people could not continue to support our highly developed Christian civilization through another year. To insure the per- petuity of an intelligent agriculture for the generations of our people who shall inherit and till the God-given acres of the nation after we have quit them, it becomes an inevitable duty of the State to educate her youth in this wonderful science and noble art. Hence, its advent into the public schools. Agriculture, as a school sub- ject, has been long in coming; but some notion as to how long it will stay with us may be gained when we consider how long mankind will continue to draw its sustenance from the soil. When one considers that there will be need for a greater quantity of agricultural prod- ucts as the population of the earth increases, and that, with the advance of time, agricultural products may be produced with ever increasing difficulty, the future im- portance of this subject may be more clearly under- stood. Agriculture has come to stay, and — it may be more truthfully said now than ever — into the hands of the teachers of the state has been placed its destiny. THE REAL PROBLEMS. The necessity of having a generally accepted work- ing philosophy of teaching agriculture in the public schools is very urgent. The greatest problems of teach- ing agriculture in the public schools are pedagogical, and not those of a technically scientific nature. An enormous mass of scientific agricultural facts, principles and laws has been discovered and formulated by the agricultural colleges and experiment stations during the past half century. The problem of choosing and adapting a por- tion of this vast agricultural knowledge and practice for use in public elementary and secondary schools has not yet been fully solved. Agricultural education — educa- tionally speaking — is still in its infancy. The methods of teaching elementary and secondary agriculture are now in their inception, and teachers, generally, have given little attention to the pedagogy of industrial subjects. THE NEED AND THE OPPORTUNITY. Universities, agricultural colleges, colleges of educa- tion, normal schools, state departments of education, high schools, and elementary schools, not only in Ohio, but throughout the nation, are looking for energetic young men and women who are trained to give instruc- tion in agriculture, and who know how to organize the work. The choicest positions will be given to those who are first ready to fill them properly. During the next few years there will be an urgent demand for teachers of agriculture, and excellent salaries will be in waiting for those who are prepared. Will you be ready for Dame Fortune's smile when she greets you? NEW COURSES. New courses in agricultural education have been organized in the College of Education of the Ohio State University, and will be devoted to the training of high school and elementary school teachers of agriculture. Assistant Professor Garland A. Bricker will have charge of the work. His qualifications for the new position are exceptionally good. He was for several years an Ohio public schoolman. He has successfully taught the sub- ject of agriculture for several years in the public schools of this state and in the academy of the University of Illinois. It was from that institution that he received his master’s degree in education. During the past year he has had the opportunity of visiting nearly every county in Ohio in the interests of the teaching of agri- culture in the public schools, and has, therefore, besides special qualifications in the subject of agricultural edu- cation, definite information that will greatly aid him in the training of teachers to meet conditions peculiar to Ohio. THE NELSON ACT. The “Nelson Amendment” (34 Stat. L 1281), ap- proved March 4, 1907, and effective for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1908, provides for increasing the funds appropriated by the Federal Government to the several states and territories for the support of the colleges of agriculture, at the rate of $5,000 a year for four years ; and thereafter $50,000 a year, whereupon the sum shall con- tinue permanently at that rate. A proviso in this act makes it permissible for the “land-grant” colleges to de- vote a part of this increased appropriation “for providing courses for the special preparation of instructors for teaching the elements of agriculture and the mechanic arts.” It is in accordance with the clause pertaining to the training of teachers of agriculture that the Univer- sity is now maintaining courses in agricultural educa- tion. FACILITIES AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY The facilities at Ohio State University are espe- cially good for this new work. In the first place, the University library is the official depository of all the pub- lications of the Federal Government. On this account, a complete set of the publications of both the National Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Educa- tion will be found here. The second consideration is the College of Agriculture. Much of its excellent equip- ment, and the helpfulness of its specialists will be avail- able to the students in the courses in agricultural edu- cation. The University farm, demonstration garden and greenhouses will be utilized in this work. Thirdly, the high standing, and the professional spirit permeating the College of Education, in which the courses in agricul- tural education are offered, are designed to give one a valuable asset throughout life. COURSES IN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Following are the tentative courses that will be of- fered during the University year of 1911-1912: 1. The Elements of General Agriculture. Six credit hours. The year. This course is designed to fur- nish a general fund of knowledge of the science and art of agriculture for the preparation of teachers to teach either elementary or secondary agriculture in the public schools of Ohio. It will also furnish an excellent basis for the further pursuit of the more specialized divisions of agriculture offered in the College of Agriculture. The work of the first semester will consist of plant studies, animal studies, and studies in farm management; and machine studies, soil studies, and studies of the condi- tions of plant growth will be considered during the sec- ond semester. The last topic will include work in the greenhouse, and the demonstration garden and investi- gations of plant diseases and insect pests together with remedial measures. 2. The Teaching of Agriculture in the High School. Two credit hours. First semester. This course is espe- cially intended for superintendents, principals and teach- ers of secondary agriculture in the high schools of the state. The administrative phases of secondary agricul- ture, the application of the principles of pedagogy to the teaching of agriculture in the high school, and the or- ganization of agricultural materials into a course of study will constitute the essential features. Bricker’s “The Teaching of Agriculture in the High School” will be the text-book used as the basis of the course. 3. Repetition of 2. Two credit hours. Second semester. 4. Teaching Elementary Agriculture. Two credit hours. First semester. This course is designed to meet the pedagogical requirements of township superintend- ents, rural teachers, and teachers in village elementary schools. The present status of agricultural instruction in the elementary schools, the arrangement of the ma- terials of elementary agriculture into a course of study, the methods of presentation of the subject matter, and the organization and use of popular auxiliaries to pub- lic school instruction in agriculture will be considered. 5. Repetition of 4. Two credit hours. Second semester. 6. Rural Life and Institutions. Two credit hours. Second semester. This course will constitute an inquiry into the status of social life in rural communities, and the various institutions through which this life finds ex- pression. Agriculture will be considered as a mode of life rather than as a science and art. AN ANNOUNCEMENT. A willingness is expressed by Professor Bricker to assist teachers in their preparation for teaching agricul- ture, by means of professional lectures before high schools, township and village teachers’ meetings, teach- ers’ associations and county teachers’ institutes. He will also be glad to receive correspondence relative to his field of professional work. The Ohio State University Bulletin is issued at least fifteen times during the Academic year; monthly in Oc- tober, November, and June, and bi-weekly in Decem- ber, January, February, March, April, and May.