AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 51, 28 June 1909, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

A TEMAIiM-: 15 I'LL A BUS

We referred the other day to the

. .udiiblc though hitherto not very successful attempts to promote agncul--I'irai education in this country (says iho 'JLiangitikei Advocate'). A new step ..as been taken in this direction by Ail /iogben, tiie iiiispector-Cnonoral, "vvlio ..as suggested that instruction at district high schools in rural districts . '-ould have more of an agricultural oasis. The scheme provides for payi.icnt by the Department of capitaf.'on grant at the rate of 10b l>-i liupil if a syllabus of work based punjipally on subjects adapted to tiie needs >i a farming community, and covering ■ period of not less than 1 20 hours per week, is introduced in rural district iiiofh schools. The subjects suggested in a tentative syllabus Wiiieh has been drafted by Mr fiogben include English, civics a,ud economies, physics, agricultural science and rural economy, dairyi and physical in si ruction, for .x>th lioT'iS and girls; drawing to scale and '.adding construction, surveying ana mensuration, woodwork, elemeivcaiv uhvsiology, and the physiology of farm animals, for boys only; hygiene an oMvsiolonw drossrn coory, auu Vusehold economy for girls only. The matter was discussed at a conMice of school inspector* and W amv ■iipa headmasters he'd at Creytown the nther da v. The headmasters were not fithusiastic about the proposal ana said i !uit it would h; 1 impossible to prepare -.r Junior Civil Service and matriculation examinations if 20 hours a week hud to be given to such a programme as suggested. This objection is o ••"I'lrse ludicrous if the scheme of teachin-' outlined is likely to prove beneficial ; s \he children, as no one can suggest that either of the examinations reterrrd to would be of the slightest practical use to those who intend to take up farming. The real objections to the proposal are first tli.it. hai'diV an> o the children attending district high seliools have any ambition to become farmers and. second, that a syllabus evolved by the Education Department is .not likely to be of such a Jfind as to induce farmers to keep their ehddio.i at school in order to take the agricultural course.