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Curtiss-Wedge, F.; Jones, Geo. O. (ed.) / History of Dunn County, Wisconsin
(1925)
Chapter XIII: The county school system, pp. 78-90
Page 86
Throughout the county agriculture was now experiencing a wonderful intellec- tual uplift, due to the work of the school. Young people were urged to enter the school at any time, if they could not enter at or near the beginning of the term. No entrance examination was given, and tuition was free to all living in Dunn County. The school was in the receipt from time to time of many useful.gifts from individuals or business firms. Cordial relations existed between this school and the Teachers' Training School, and work was exchanged between the two schools to the mutual advantage of each. In the same year, 1905, Mrs. Bertha Tainter gave a greenhouse to the school, which was fitted up for the work of the students. Soon after this, the testing of cattle for tuberculosis was taken up by the school, and classes of students were taken out to herds where the owners wished the testing done, the farmer and students getting the benefit. The farmers were also being taught to get rid of poor and unprofitable cows and replace them by better stock; also how to practice economy in feeding. They were shown the best methods of fighting insect enemies, preventing plant diseases, managing crops, grafting fruit trees, planning and building farm structures, combating weeds, estallishing water and sewage systems, draining marshy or boggy lands, testing seeds, deciding on what power systems to use, whether water, wind, steam or gasoline engine, etc. In 1907 Prof. James A. Wilson succeeded Prof. Davis as principal of the Agri- cultural School. He was a practical farmer, dairyman and stockman, and had much experience in farm institute work. He was a graduate of the Minnesota School of Agriculture, and had taken the full university course in the college of agriculture. He had also taught common school at Cottonwood and Thief River Falls, Minn.; at the latter place he organized and built up a good high school, and had been principal for one year of the School of Agriculture at Crookston, Minn. It is not the purpose of this article to relate all the minor changes that have taken place in the growth of the school. Its origin and general plan of work have been described, and that plan has been pursued with but slight modification up to the present time. The number of students has increased to 85, and the faculty now consists of seven members, who are as follows: D. P. Huges, B. S. A., prin- cipal; Clara Moeschler, B. A., M. A., assistant principal; Mrs. E. Gibson, Stout Institute domestic economy; Elwood Cleasbv, B. S. A., science; Ben McDonald, Stout Institute manual training; Arthur Gordon, River Falls normal husbandry; and Mrs. Florence Pierson, clerk and librarian. Mr. Hughes became principal in 1917, succeeding Theo. Sexauer. The courses of study now include the four-year agricultural course, the four-year home economics course, two-year agricultural course and the two-year home economics course, and the two-year winter short course in agricluture and domestic economy. In the four-year agricultural course the first years work (suitably and progres- sively arranged for the two semesters) includes the following subjects: English, commercial arithmetic or algebra (algebra in alternate years to first and second year students), general science, animal husbandry, physical education, shop work, and civic biology. The second year's work includes English, poultry, horticulture and bees, citizenship, farm crops, feeds and feeding, physical education and dairy husbandry. The third year's work includes English, modern history, farm mechanics, soils, physical education and general geography. The fourth year's work includes English or advanced shop work, U. S. history, chemistry or physics, economics, physical education, algebra, geometry, commercial arithmetic, advanced shop work are classed as elective studies. In the same manner, the four-year hcme economics course for the first year includes English, arithmetic or algebra, general science, home economics. physical education; for the second year, English. poultry, citizenship. home economics, physical education, gardening and horticulture; for" the third year. English, modern history. economics and physical education; and for the fourth year, English. Ameni- HISTORY OF DUN-N COUNTY 86
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