| |
| |
Caption: Book - History of the University (Powell)
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.
EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:
4 History University of Illinois of interest and assistance to the agriculturist could be taught An item of particular interest in the paper is the advice that such a school be located where there would be no exposure to the endless temptations of cities and where exercise, health, and strength of constitution might be secured.8 Apparently the function of spending years recovering from the effects of foul air and dissipation while obtaining an education, was still to be the prerogative of the classical student. In January, 1844, a committee of seven was appointed by the society to promote "the introduction of agricultural books and studies in the schools and libraries throughout the state." The members of the committee were John Grieg, Governor Seward, Lieutenant-Governor Dickinson, Colonel John King, James S. Wadsworth, Judge Savage, and Henry 0 'Beilly. In 1845 this committee presented an elaborate report, which contained, among other proposals, one emphatically favoring the introduction of agricultural books into the common libraries and the offer of premiums for prize essays. " T h e condition of the youth of this state and the want of teachers for the elementary departments of education seemed unpropitious to the system," said a writer of 1853 reporting in the transactions of the society. At the annual meeting in January, 1844, the following resolution was passed by the society: " T h a t this society regards the establishment of an agricultural institute and pattern farm in this state where shall be taught thoroughly the science, and after the science, the practice, and the profits of good husbandry, as an object of great importance to the productive agriculture of New York." This was distinctly a forward step as it was the most definite expression of the recognition of the need for agricultural education that had been formulated. In 1846 Colonel Sherwood of Cayuga, who was head of the state society, declared his earnest hope that the day was not far distant when agricultural sciences would be taught in our schools, academies, and colleges. *New York State Agricultural Society, Transactions, 13: 530, also for a summary of the history of industrial education in New York.
| |
