Back to school: Ag class curriculum differs from years past

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Fresh Faces -- These Ag 101 classmates at James Bowie High School are ready to take on the '04-'05 school year and learn more about ag-related topics. -- Staff photo by Montgomery

August 19, 2004 - Many students are back in the classroom for the 2004-2005 school year; and many will be taking agriculture classes.

How has ag education changed over the years?

"Classes are more individualized now," began James Bowie's (Simms) ag teacher Michael Meadows.

Meadows explained after a high school student takes the basic Ag 101 and 102 courses, they can choose an area that is more appealing, such as "animal science, soil science or ag mechanics."

While visiting with Meadows' 101 class during its first week of session, students were asked, "Why take an agriculture course?" Answers varied from "because it is fun and interesting" to "wanting to learn a trade."

Also, of the students surveyed, most have parents who were took ag classes in high school.

Meadows mentioned enrollment in ag education classes, across the state, is rising, and enrollment in the Ag 101 class at James Bowie has doubled since last year.

As a result of more students being enrolled in ag education classes, enrollment in FFA is also increasing. The FFA enrollment increase could be attributed to the fact that today, unlike in years past, a student does not have to complete a "project" to be a member of the future farmers organization.

"In the mid-'80s, you no longer had to have a project to be involved in FFA. FFA is no longer just showing (livestock or ag mechanic projects). There are a lot more opportunities to be involved (in the organization)," Meadows said.

L.A. Wright, Atlanta ag teacher, echoed Meadows' sentiments, but said even though projects are not mandatory, "I miss that."

Meadows added one of the areas that has definitely changed since he was in FFA is the "demographics has changed. You are seeing more and more females involved, especially in the leadership roles."

Also new to the ag education curriculum is wildlife, ag communication and personal skills, and development courses. Horticulture and floraculture, along with aquaculture (in coast areas), are also new topics on the ag education agenda.

Meadows said his school is still a rural school and a lot of the same coursework that was taught when he attended in the early '80s is still on the table.

"There is still a need to teach a skill. It's not just 'production ag' any more, it is skill oriented. I am teaching a class on home maintenance, which is basic plumbing and electricity," Meadows said.

Wright added, "The main thing (at Atlanta) is we have gone from rural kids to the non-rural kids and had to change directions."

Evidence of this change came this year when one of Wright's students asked what agriculture was. Wright said he had to explain the importance of agriculture to the student.

"The major interest has turned into shop," Wright pointed out about other changes.

The ag teachers stated as a result of changes in society, there has been less support for ag classes, but Meadows stressed "those communities that do not support ag are short-changing their kids."

Meadows gave an example that happened several years ago involving a student who was building a barn. The example showcased that ag classes can supplement other core coursework, such as math classes.

"We were trying to find out the slope to build a roof on a barn. The student said, 'I thought this was going to be fun. This is geometry,' I told him, 'Yes, it is.'"

An example of having a "good problem" regarding the current ag classes wa also given by Wright.

"So many kids want to take ag classes, but there are too many in the classroom, (which is true in the ag mechanics courses). It's not a bad thing," Wright said.

Another plus, Wright is seeing, is more websites are accessible and can be used as a teaching tool, which is a big difference between ag classes now and a decade ago.

Both ag teachers emphasized their programs are still implementing character education, and in a world where "yes, sir" and "no, sir" often goes by the wayside, manners are still being taught in ag classes.