FARM TRAINING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1945, Page 3

FARM TRAINING

TWO YEARS' COURSE

PROPOSED HIGH SCHOOL

The establishment in the Auckland Province of an agricultural high school for pupils who have completed two years in a post-primary school, and who desire another two years' education before going on the land, has been recommended by a special committee of the Auckland Education Board. The site of the school would be south of Auckland city.

The first two years of post-primary education could bo given just as efficiently in a district high school, and after that a boy would be in a better position to decide his future vocation, the committee's report stated. If there was sufficient demand, it might be possible to make special provision for boys of, say, 16 years of age, who had not completed the two years' post-primary work.

Discussing the future prospects of agricultural trainees, the report said that conditions of work for farm employees should be made relatively as attractive as the conditions in urban industries. In addition, pupils wishing to go on the land had a right to equal opportunity in the way of bursaries for further education as pupils wishing to adopt other vocations.

It was considered that accommodation should be provided for 100 boarders at the proposed school. The boarding fees, which averaged now about £65 a school year of 40 weeks, would be offset to, some extent by the Government grant of 2/ a school day for eligible pupils. The demand for board at existing schools exceeded what was available.

The area of land required for the school would probably be between 100 and 300 acres. The site should be convenient to the whole of South Auckland, but not too close to a large town.