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The
April-May 1956 Alabama Future Farmer had an editorial entitled
"A Future for You In Teaching. . .VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE."
There was no byline nor credit for whomever wrote the article. But many
of its bits of wisdom and advice are still as pertinent today as they
were when they were written. The article, it appears, was written
specifically for recruiting young men to become vocational agriculture
teachers. Many of you will remember when the local "Vo-Ag"
teacher was highly respected in his community and considered a source of
information on all agricultural-related subjects. Vocational agriculture
teachers have been known by many official titles. Other than the
"Vo-Ag teacher," they were called agribusiness teachers and
today they are known as agriscience teachers. By whatever name "ag
teachers" have been titled, they all have had the same mission and
goal: to educate young people.
The
editorial: "Each year there are positions for about 60 new teachers
of vocational agriculture in Alabama high schools. For the past 10 years
almost every qualified graduate, who desired to teach vocational
agriculture, has been employed. These graduates are being employed at
higher salaries each year.
"One
of the major problems facing you is that of choosing your life work or
your vocation. This decision is probably more important than you now
realize. Few decisions will affect your future as much as your solution
to this problem. In making this decision, have you considered teaching
vocational agriculture?
"Teaching
agriculture is interesting. As a teacher of vocational agriculture you
teach high school boys, young farmers, and adult farmers. Much of the
work is on the farms of the members of your classes. In your teaching
you deal with practical farm problems which the members of your class
need to solve. In a single day an agriculture teacher may take a class
on a field trip to select dairy heifers, teach another class to overhaul
grain drills and teach another group practices in fertilizing corn that
will result in higher profits.
"Another
part of your work as a vocational agriculture teacher is that of serving
as Advisor of the local chapter of Future Farmers of America. Typical
chapter activities under your direction might include a trip to the
State Future Farmers Convention, conducting a purebred swine sale,
training a livestock judging team or other activities which will help
boys become successful farmers, rural leaders and good citizens.
"As
a teacher of vocational agriculture you enjoy many advantages. It is
hard to spell out all of these advantages but experienced teachers tell
us they have unequaled opportunity to be of service to rural people.
They find their work interesting, practical and enjoyable. They receive
income which provides a comfortable living.
"As
a teacher in an Alabama high school, you can make a real contribution to
the youth of today, who hold our future in their hands. The future of
our country is determined to a large degree by the teaching in our
schools.
"Your
work results in improving the farming of the community in which you
teach. Better farming results in a more prosperous community, state and
nation.
"You
can be a leader in your community. Alabama’s modern rural schools need
good teachers to provide and develop rural leadership.
"Teaching
vocational agriculture gives you an opportunity to be creative in your
work. It challenges you to put forth the best that you have.
"You
will enjoy watching the development of those whom you teach. There is a
real thrill awaiting you the day your first State Farmer receives his
gold key.
"Your
work is practical and useful. It deals with the interesting and changing
science of agriculture. For example, you would enjoy driving through
your community and seeing contour farming, one of the results of your
teaching in adult farmer classes.
"Much
of your time is spent out-of-doors in the country, working with farm
people.
"Your
work consists of many different activities. You do not have a routine
which must be followed day-by-day.
"In
Alabama, salaries of vocational agriculture teachers range from $325 to
$425 per month. As a teacher of agriculture, you receive travel expenses
in addition to your salary.
"You
are employed twelve months a year. Unlike most teachers, you work during
the summer. You also receive two weeks vacation each year with pay.
"You
have all the advantages of the Alabama teachers’ retirement system as
well as the Federal Social Security program. After a few years of
experience, the position offers the position of tenure.
"As
in most other vocations certain personal qualities will help you to be
happier and more successful in your work.
"One
quality which will help you become a successful teacher of vocational
agriculture is having been reared on a farm. As a teacher of
agriculture, you will need to know, like and understand farm people.
Your farm experience can be put to good use in teaching.
"Being
a good student will help you succeed in teaching vocational agriculture.
It takes a good student to successfully do the college work necessary in
preparing to teach agriculture. The good student is better able to keep
up-to-date with new agricultural practices, an essential part of his
work.
"As
a prospective teacher of vocational agriculture you should be able to
work cooperatively with people. A pleasing personality and a cooperative
attitude will be invaluable to you in working with your students,
teachers in the school and others in the community.
"Qualities
of leadership will be helpful to you. You need to be able to lead, help,
counsel and advise boys. The ability to be a leader gains the respect of
those you teach and makes your teaching more effective and enjoyable.
"Your
preparation for teaching vocational agriculture requires a four-year
college course in agricultural education.
"Therefore,
if you have a farm background, are a good student, possess a pleasing
personality, can work well with people and have certain qualities of
leadership, you can become a successful teacher of vocational
agriculture."
Sometime
during the years of agricultural education a creed was written for
agricultural teachers. The first version was approved at the 1951
National Vocational Agricultural Teachers Association (NVATA) Convention
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It appears the NVATA creed was patterned
after the Code of Ethics of the Texas Vocational Agriculture Teachers
Association. There are however, substantial differences between the
Texas Code of Ethics and the NVATA creed. The document is referred to as
the Creed of an Agricultural Teacher and sometimes as the Code of
Ethics. It is clear that "creed" and the "code of
ethics" is the same.
"I
am a teacher of vocational agriculture by choice and not by chance.
"I
believe in American agriculture; I dedicate my life to its development
and the advancement of its people.
"I
will strive to set before my students by my deeds and actions the
highest standards of citizenship for the community, state and nation.
"I
will endeavor to develop professionally through study, travel and
exploration.
"I
will not knowingly wrong my fellow teachers. I will defend them as far
as honesty will permit.
"I
will work for the advancement of vocational agriculture and I will
defend it in my community, state and nation.
"I
realize that I am a part of the public school system. I work in harmony
with school authorities and other teachers of the school.
"My
love for youth will spur me on to impart something from my life that
will help make for each of my students a full and happy future."
As
in previous Sentinel articles much of what is known about the
history of FFA is written. The editorial shared in the first part of
this article and the agriscience teachers’ creed in the last half are
still as pertinent today as they were when written more than 50 years
ago. To be successful as an agriscience teacher, whether in the 1950s or
the 21st century, a love of and for agriculture and a love for young
people has not changed and will not change no matter how many years
elapse.
Jacob
Davis is the Executive Secretary of the Alabama FFA Association. |
