Showing posts with label NFA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFA. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

New Farmers of America - Dr. Connie Baggett

Dr. Connie Baggett
Associate Professor of Agricultural and Extension Education
Member of the New Farmers of America (NFA)

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Dr. Baggett shared his history and experience of the New Farmers of America. He started by sharing how below the Mason Dixon line was "separate but never equal". During high school he was apart of the merge between NFA and FFA. The NFA was a National organization of Negro farm boys studying vocational agriculture in the public school throughout the United States. All "cool kids" in high school wore their blue jackets and was apart of the NFA. Three fun facts from the day were:

1.  The advisor part of opening ceremonies were adopted from the NFA
2.  Dr. Baggett was apart of the NFA quartet and he shared his talents in class today
3. Active Membership Degrees and Privileges were called:
         Farm Hand
         Improved Farmer
         Modern Farmer
         Superior Farmer



Reminders:
1. Keep up with your AET journal entries each week
2. Read and start your Chapter Officer Development Plans, if you have not already
3. Don't forget about your weekly web wonders due every Friday by 5pm

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Dr. Baggett Responses to Your Questions!

Hello all! As I had stated in the answers to the ticket out questions in an earlier session, Dr. Baggett has responded to your questions for here. Below are your questions and his responses!


Did Brown vs. Board of Education help improve vocational education for African Americans?

The Brown vs. Board of Education sat the judicial precedent for integration—that separate but equal was unconstitutional according to the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.  Very little changed in the real world of secondary education with this decision.  It wasn’t until the Civil Right Act of 1964 that real changes began to take place.  The “Cotton Belt States” still resisted change and the US Government had to use military force to make sure the law was enforced.  Hence, there were turbulent times in this region between 1965 and 1969. The majority population knew that African American schools were not equal because they did not support these schools appropriately compared with the other schools.  However, given the limited resources available, minority schools did an excellent job!  Desegregation helped to level the playing fields relative to the availability of resources.  
After 1964, minority schools were closed and minority students were integrated into majority schools.  There was a huge emotional letdown among minority high school graduates when they found that their alma mater no longer existed.
How did you feel about the FFA and NFA merge?  

Most NFA members were not happy with the merger and I was not exception.  Many NFA members felt that the merger was really a hostile take-over.  There was a vacuum of identity.  NFA members did not have an affinity for FFA.  The 1890 Land grant colleges and universities struggled in accepting FFA and did not embrace collegiate FFA chapters to replace NFA.  Few, if any, 1890 institutions developed collegiate FFA chapters.  My alma mater, NC A & T State University, developed the Ag Ed Association as a replacement for collegiate NFA.
Would things have been better if there would not have been segregated school, or would minorities have suffered more "persecution"?

Segregation was wrong on so many levels and it made a lie of the statement “One nation under God…” because the United States was two nations—one African American and a white.  Segregation was institutional racism in the truest sense of the word and everyone paid dearly.  Slavery was wrong and precipitated segregation where African men, women, and children were treated as property.  Persecution and abuse was used to keep slaves and eventual African Americans in their place as second class people not worthy of citizenship.
Life and education definitely would have been better if schools were not segregated.  Integrated schools exposed the races to one another and fostered racial harmony and respect.  Children of all races grow up, experience the same environment, face similar challenges, and achieve success or failure together.  These children see that the old stereotype are invalid and that skin color does not make a lot of difference.  Having equal access to the resources allows all to develop and grow at one’s interest and capability.  Some, both black and white, will make the most of these opportunities and excel while others will do the minimum.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Session 6- Learning about the NFA



                Today we had a great class period with Dr. Connie Baggett! It was amazing to hear his stories from the NFA and that he even shared some of the songs that he sang when in the NFA chorus! Thank you all for a wonderful class!

Ticket Out Questions

What are you curious about?

  • What are Dr. Baggett’s personal thoughts on the merge of the NFA with FFA?

o   This will be answered as soon as an email is received from Dr. Bagget. Check back for the answers!

  •  Dr. Baggett, would things have been better if there would not have been segregated schools, or would minorities have suffered more “persecution”?

o   This will be answered as soon as an email is received from Dr. Bagget. Check back for the answers!

  • How different was the NFA from the FFA?

o   Remember the NFA and FFA were “separate but equal.” The handout given in class does a great job explaining the differences. Some of the basic differences were that the NFA only allowed African-American students to participate and were strongly religion based where FFA allowed everyone to join depending on where you lived.

  •  There were African American officers in the FFA before the merger, how was this possible with the separate but equal doctrines/laws?

o   Some states were not segregated and gave all students regardless of race the opportunity to participate in the FFA.
  •  More resources for FFA History including the NFA.
o   The additional readings section on Angel gives many great ways to research history. Looking through the Agricultural Education Magazine archives is another great way to learn more about the FFA history. Here is a link to the NFA page on the FFA website that gives more information on the NFA and their milestones: https://www.ffa.org/About/NationalFFA/diversity_and_inclusion/newfarmers/Pages/NFA-History-and-Milestones.aspx
  •  How are minorities represented in the FFA now? Is the NFA still in existence?
o   According to the National FFA website, “67% of our membership is White; 22% is Hispanic/Latino; 8% is Black/African-American or American Indian; and 3% Asian, Pacific Islander or two or more races.”
o   No the NFA is not still in existence.
  •  How has affiliate membership affected SAE projects? Do all students still complete one?
o   All students have always been required to complete SAE projects regardless if they are an FFA member or not. The qualities of the SAE projects vary, but remember that SAE is one of the three circles needed for a successful agricultural education program.
  • Why the NFA isn’t as well known as the FFA.
o   The FFA has been around much longer than the NFA. After the merge, the NFA was no longer in existence so it did not gain recognition.
  • What are some ways the NFA’s educational instruction methods are being used today?
o   Many of the things that we not use in the classroom for teaching aids are combinations of the FFA and NFA’s educational instruction methods. Both followed the three circle model very closely.
  • Did the FFA and NFA ever compete in events together? i.e. Livestock judging contests.
o   No, the organizations were completely separate until the merger when all members were part of the FFA.
  • Non-traditional SAEs.
o   There will be a class session devoted to this subject later in AEE 311, so stay tuned!
  • Officer selection plans for next week.
o   This will be covered in depth on Tuesday! Be thinking of what a good officer team is made of and what guidelines need to accompany a team for success!
  • How can I best prepare for assignments?
o   Ask questions and look at the examples given.
  •  How some students reacted to the NFA/FFA merge?
o   Minorities in the FFA dropped significantly after the merge.
  •  Learning more about the history of Ag Ed through the online resources on Angel.            
o   Good idea! Using the resources listed on Angel is a great way to learn more about Ag Ed.
 
What did you learn?

  • How important SAEs are in the development of a young person who may not know what they want to do.
  • The history and symbol of NFA
  • Dr. Baggett is a good singer!
  •  Rufus Stimson is the father of SAE.
  • SAE was part of the Smith Hughes Act.
  •  “You train animals, but you educate people”

What do you want to learn more about?
  • What is the H.O. Sargent award for?
o   Originally the H.O. Sargent award was given to students after they graduated from high school. Upon merging with FFA, the National FFA now commemorates the NFA with the H.O. Sargent award. For more information visit: https://ulib.iupui.edu/special/nfa
  • What are the present ratios of diversity in the FFA currently?
o   67% of the membership is White; 22% is Hispanic/Latino; 8% is Black/African-American or American Indian; and 3% Asian, Pacific Islander or two or more races.
  • NFA- history, competitions, etc.
o   Here are two links to explore with information on the NFA: https://ulib.iupui.edu/special/nfa and https://www.ffa.org/About/NationalFFA/diversity_and_inclusion/newfarmers/Pages/NFA-History-and-Milestones.aspx. Also refer to the handout given in class
  •  How can I engage more students in SAE projects?
o   Stay tuned, this will be covered in a later AEE 311 class!
  •  I want to learn more about what or when schools/clubs formed.
o   Research specific schools for specific dates. Each school is different.
  • How to increase chapter diversity?
o   Stay tuned, this will be covered in a later AEE 311 class!
  • Did Brown vs. Board of Education help improve vocational education for African Americans?
o   This will be answered as soon as an email is received from Dr. Bagget. Check back for the answers!
  • Ways to involve everyone in the classroom and to help each students have great experiences/memories.
o   The best way to do this is to have a comprehensive Program of Activities that encompasses everyone and engages them in a fun yet instructional manner.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Follow up to Session 6 - How did it all begin continued! September 12th

Be sure to geek out on the posted articles in the Week 3 Folder on Angel!

Responses to Tickets Out

What are you curious about?

  • How we should know for Exam?
    • What exam? There is not an exam in AEE 311.
  • More about the very beginning of FFA
    • Check out the cool articles on Angel!
  • How can people earn the Honorary FFA Degree?
    • See page 38 and 39 of you Official FFA Manual
  • Why did it take so long for girls to be allowed to join the FFA?
  • What could the professor's argument have been for women to be excluded from FFA?
    • I will ask Dr. Knight and see if he can share or join us.
  • Is there still federal funding for Ag Ed or FFA?
    • It is not delivered directly to local programs, but yes
  • Officer Selection Plans
    • Look at the 5 examples on Angel
  • The Rest of the projects that we need to do this semester
    • See the assignment handbook!
  • How to make an awesome officer team?
    • Have questions for Blaze!
  • What are good questions to ask officer candidates?
    • Ask Blaze!
  • Future Homemakers of America (FHA)

What did you learn?

  1. Lots of random FFA facts about history of the FFA
  2. EM Tiffany was the first creed author in the FFA Manual; Grove was!
  3. Sweetheart Jackets - New!
  4. Corn & Tomato Clubs
  5. IN 1925, Groseclose, Sanders, Newman and Magill started the Future Farmers of Virginia
  6. American Degree used to only be given to 2% of membership
  7. NFA had a song leader...interesting!
  8. The Officer Selection process should be a lot more serious than what my chapter did
  9. CH Lane was first FFA Advisor
  10. First Families of Virginia and Future Farmers of Virginia
  11. NFA had hats...I want hats
  12. The NFA used a cotton boll instead of corn

What do you want to learn more about?

  • SAEs
    • It is coming! For now, check out saebuilder.com
  • I want to learn more about the history of the PA FFA Association
  • The History of the NFA
    • See the cool articles on Angel
  • SAE vs CDE: What is the difference?
    • SAE = Supervised Agricultural Experience = Students opportunity to apply class content outside of class time, learn financial literacy and earn awards
    • CDE = Career Development Event; a contest to apply knowledge to an event (example: Livestock Judging; Agriscience Fair, Floriculture.
  • Is there any back ground on Blaze we can have?
  • I need to learn if I need to make a new post or just update my first post every week on AET
    • You need to keep records which would probably involve multiple postings. Come see me to show me your question
  • Web Sites for Officer Selection Plans
    • Look at MPower at FFA Learns
  • How to include everyone that wants a leadership role even they can't be on the officer team?
    • Great question for Blaze! or to post on NAAE CoP..hmmmm.
  • Others views on the Jacket, Does it bring the organization down?
    • I don't know..post a comment to this blog or tweet your opinion! (#aee311)
  • Should you have a group select officers or just your opinion form interviews and applications?
    • Ask Blaze!
  • Officer Budget Plan
    • If you want great officers, put your money where your mouth is and invest..but how much, where, and how...that is the budget plan. For example: are you going to buy new jackets for all officers?
  • NAAE CoP, Signed up...now what?
    • Ask questions! Use it as a resources!
  • Can handouts that highlight potential leadership skills be included in our officer selection packets?
    • Sure!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Session 4 - Creating Meaning of the Essential Elements - Sept. 5th

To address the Ticket Outs from Session 3:

What are we curious about?
What did you learn?

    What do you want to learn more about?