Traditionally, high-school agricultural science classes have had a vocational-education tinge to them that didn’t accurately reflect the high-tech aspects of farming today. Now several schools in nine states are piloting a new, standard national curriculum that’s more challenging. It’s called CASE, or Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education. Hereford High School in Baltimore Country, Maryland, is one of four in that state taking part in the trial, the Baltimore Sun reports.

The classes very much take an activity- and projects-based approach to learning, combining it with more rigorous math and science. The idea is to make the science and math more relevant to high-schoolers in rural areas. Ultimately, CASE hopes to have a standard introductory course in agriculture, food and natural resources. Students can then opt for classes in animal science, plant science, agriculture technology, or natural resources and environmental science. There would then be a capstone class in agricultural business and research and development.
Says Dan Jansen, project director: “We realize that we’re not training farmers and producers; we’re really working on getting scientists and biotechnicians, with a practical background of agriculture.” The hands-on aspect of the class was certainly something that Hereford High freshman Marshall Feinberg enjoyed, as he dissected a raw chicken wing. “I like this better than classwork,” he told the Sun reporter.

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