New program brings agriculture to urban classrooms

Gloria Andrade, a junior in the agricultural program at Buena Park High School, poses with her sheep, Frankie, in the barn area. Photo by Mark Rightmire, The Orange County Register. See Our national Teach Ag Day virtual celebration from Buena Park High School in Buena Park, California archived here.

“We need more students learning about agriculture,”

National Teach Ag Campaign
March 19, 2012

Earlier this month six undergraduate agricultural education majors were able to test their teaching skills on a group of 7th grade students at Stuart-Hobson Middle School in downtown Washington, D.C. The program, which pairs future and seasoned agriculture teachers to deliver science-based agriculture lessons is the first of its kind.

The program participants, who were from various parts of the United States, had gathered in Washington, D.C. to celebrate national Ag day. The teaching program was organized by the National Teach Ag Campaign, an initiative to increase the number of agricultural educators in the United States.

“We have a shortage of agriculture teachers right now,” Ellen Thompson, National Teach Ag Campaign Coordinator, said in a news release “There aren’t enough students who are graduating with a degree in agricultural education, and those who do graduate are leaving the profession too soon.”

Thompson explained that the program works on a variety of levels. It gives urban students an opportunity to learn about the science behind agriculture, undergraduates an opportunity to get a feel for teaching, and experienced teachers a chance to share their wisdom.

Read the complete article here.