SCHOOL GARDEN WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 152, 28 June 1911, Page 6

SCHOOL GARDEN WORK.

, An- interesting address was given by ! Mr. J. P. Kalaugaer., the Auckland Education Board's instructor in elementary agriculture, before a large gathering, of members of the Auckland Country Teachers' Association ip the Training College this afternoon, ' In opening his. address, Mr> Kalaugher recognised the difficulties wJiJcU presented .themselves, to teachers with, regard, to :, school gardens,, but with those 'difficulties overcame, a great, and permanent •good would he achieved!. T)ie lecturer quoted. Mr. Baillie., the Americam authority, who was practically the starting point in, the teaching;, of. agrksulturer in schools.. In. the- teaching- of. agriculture in the primary schools,, pointed out the spea{kpr,'it; was no> intended .that.fawners should';' be turned,; out,' but- that teachers deaf with,! thf>- principles, qarrrnipn tp. all agriculture and thus- lay th_e_ foundjit/ipn, of a,; love for- the, study- of: agriculture along- intelligent- lines, on- the- pari;, of the pupils. Mr, Kajangber proceeded- to' deal with the objects.- andi ainiSj in-,, the teaching of agriculture-, lading- special stress on the importance, of encQuraginga- spirit of independent investigation intjq the phenomena of nature, and.'the bring* ing- of- the- school. life. .into closer- touch with the. home? life of the. pupils. He recommenfierl} in-, the course- ot his. remarks, thatio-. laying- Quti school' gardens the- beat, plan. was: to have a general; scheme, for- tho beautify; ing of the, school grounds, as-, at whole, and- hav.e the gardens, a parh of -ohe. ■scheme. He- also recommended that teachers should, as far as possibly-««. gveh a scheme* make, use ol Zealand shrubs and trees.

In .reference to the teaching of agriculture in Victorias Mr. Kalaugher quoted the following regulation of the Education Department of that State: —"In country schools especially the inspectors will award high marks in cases where the- nature study is likely to give knowledge and ability capable ofc reacting upon the industrial life of-, the dis? trict," A hearty vote of-' thanks was- accorded the lecturer at the- conclusion of; the address;