"A DEFINITE ADVANCE"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 25, 30 January 1930, Page 21

"A DEFINITE ADVANCE"

SCHOOL AGRICULTURE

YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED

Good progress during the year was reported by Mr. H. W. Hesse, supervisor of agriculture and science instruction to the Wellington Education Board, in his annual report presented to the board yesterday.

"The -work done in tlie schools during tho past year has shown a definite advance, and material progress has been made," ho stated. "Increased attention has been paid to the nature study work done in the primer classes and in the lower, division of all schools, with the result that the teaching in these classes is on better practical and observational lines, a distinct bias and enthusiasm for the great outdoors is here being given, and a more solid foundation in the first essentials of the scientific method—first-hand outdoor studies by the children, with better observation, and more accurate expression of observations made —is evident. The_ children in these classes have been encouraged to make collections, and to make nature study picture books, in which specimens studied are kept and class lessons supplemented by pictures. This is giving good results, and many pleasing books havo boon made by the children., "The nature study work of the teachers is now showing moro definite aim, with better educational results. This is particularly evident iv the work of Standards 3 and 4 classes, and in these and in upper division classes gome very good quality work has been done in the collecting and study of plants and trees of the New Zealand flora.

"The course which has been followed mainly in all schools, including the city and town schools, is the agricultural course, based on outside and garden work correlated with indoor science lessons.

"The older type of science lessons in the upper division classes, which used to consist largely of elementary science experiments, demonstrated by the teacher, has in great measure given place to better methods, under which simple experiments are undertaken by the children themselves under the supervision of the class teacher. This arouses the real interest of the children, and the observation of the results of their own experiments, with .thoir own deductions made and. neatly recorded, encourages a spirit of inquiry of good educational value. "The improvement of the science work in the schools is due to the spirit, of co-operation which has been shown by the teachers, to the constructive attitude of the instructors, the interest evidenced by the inspectors, and in particular to the booklet containing schemes of nature study and elementary science for the assistance and guidance of teachers issued by the board early in 1929. These schemes have resulted in more definite and systematic work, and the booklet has been appreciated and welcomed by the great majority of teachers."

The report also deals at length with school gardens, school forestry, home garden competitions, and agricultural clubs.