Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1904 — May Teach Farming. [ARTICLE]

May Teach Farming.

A ( ong with their spelling, arithmetic, geography and other branches of study, children in the district schools of Indiana may next j ear receive instruction in ■he handling of hoes and plows an I harrows, the harvesting- of crops and th* planting of seeds and occasionally listen to learned discussions on tbe elements of the soil

F- A. Cotton, superintendent of public instinotion, has informed the Indianapolis Star that he was about to “suggest” that an elementary course in agriculture be added to tne regular curriculum of common schools and located in farming districts of the state. “Now, the course in agriculture which I have outlined, will be purely optional with the pupils and tbe teachers,” said Mr. Cotton. '•The course as now decided upon will consist of instruction in the examination of seeds of all kinds, the planting of grains and plants and a study of their development, instruction on the elements of the soil and such work along other lines of agriculture as may be practically carried on at the school house.”