![]() Lowell High School Building, 1906 |
![]() Lowell High School Building, 1913 |
![]() Lowell High School, 1916 |
![]() Lowell High School, 1920's |
![]() Lowell High School, 1920's |
![]() Lowell High School, 1922 |
In arranging the course of study for our high school, local conditions and needs have been kept constantly in mind. It is apparent that a course of study suitable to meet the conditions in our high school may not be suitable for other schools. It is true college entrance requirements have been kept in mind, so that those desiring to attend college will receive proper recognition. Aside from the college entrance requirements our course has been made very flexible by providing for elective subjects.
Realizing the need of industrial education, courses in sewing, household economics, and agriculture have been added. As a great number of our pupils come from the rural districts, special attention has been given to the arrangement of a three years' course in agriculture.
The first year is devoted to the study of agricultural botany, which treats of the identification and classification of the common plants; the method of propagation and improvement; the plant and animal enemies; the rate of increase and growth of noxious weeds; the time and manner of destroying the same, etc.
The second year is devoted to the study of soils, field crops, fruit growing and vegetable gardening.
The study of soils treats of the origin, formation, composition, and classification of the soils in the community; their physical properties and methods of treatment in relation to their behavior toward moisture, air and heat; and the improvement of soils and the maintenance of soil fertility.
The study of farm crops treats of corn judging; simple germination and purity tests of seeds; the study and identification of all kinds of seeds; and a study of the bulletins put out by the state experiment station and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The study of vegetable gardening treats of the study of varieties and management of vegetables; the home garden; and the construction and management of hotbeds and cold frames.
The study of fruit growing treats of the principles of plant propagation; laboratory work in grafting, layering, cutting and pruning; care and cultivation of fruits for home and market; and means of destroying insects and fungus diseases. The third year is devoted to the study of live stock, dairying, poultry and the principles of feeding.
The study of live stock treats of the breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and swine; the scoring and judging of individuals; and the methods of improving the live stock upon the farm.
The principles of feeding is a study of the classes of animal feeds; the function of each in the animal's body; the study of bulletins put out by different stations; and the compounding of balanced rations.
The study of poultry treats of the origin and history of the breeds; winter and summer care of poultry; feeding for growth and egg production; and the treatment of diseases and methods of housing poultry.
The study of dairying treats of the improvement of the dairy herd; the judging of the dairy cow; the testing of milk for butter fat; and the care of milk on the farm
The purpose of this course as outlined above is to make agriculture comparable in extent and thoroughness with the courses in physics, botany, history, literature and other subjects. The subject is not one that can be memorized or even acquired in the ordinary methods of school study; it relates itself to the actual work and business of the community in such a way as will develop the students' judgment of affairs and conditions. We hope by the introduction of this course to bring the school in touch with the daily life of the community, and to lead more boys to choose agriculture as a profession.
We now have forty-five pupils taking the work and hope to enlarge and strengthen the course for next year by the addition of more laboratory equipment.
For more information, go to Lowell High School Graduates -- 1890-1916
Return to Lowell History
Contact referenc@lowellpl.lib.in.us