Teaching in Rural Communities of the Po Valley, 1861-1900: An Idea of Agricultural Education Described by Agrarian Bulletins

Italian agricultural modernization in the late 19th century was partly the result of increased environmental and agronomic knowledge acquired from primary school onwards. The article opens a new research perspective by analysing how primary school teachers and vocational institutes contributed to agricultural and environmental education in rural areas of Northern Italy. These practices also raised awareness concerning social and cultural problems in rural areas. Laboratory activities and field trips played a fundamental role in teaching strategies that combined theoretical and practical lessons, putting students in direct contact with the territory and its resources. In the research presented here, three case studies are analysed. The first is the network of primary schools brought to life by resourceful teachers and the financial support of local authorities in the Monza area. The second focuses on the Practical School of Agriculture in Voghera and its field trips. The third looks at the practical training course for cellarmen that was planned in Stradella. Italian innovation in the final decades of the 19th century gave careful attention to the characteristics of each territory while also looking at highly successful didactic experiences in the most advanced countries.