OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

Evening Star, Issue 21722, 17 May 1934, Page 3

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOLS

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD VIEWS Of AGRICULTURAL COURSES The High Schools’ Board met yesterday afternoon, there being present the chairman (Dr G. E. Thompson), Mrs S. M. Park, the mayor (the Rev. K. T. Cox), Jlosses W. R- Brngli, J. Mallard,' D. T. Fleming, and Dr Lawson GIFT TO ORCHESTRA. Mr J. A. Robinson was warmly thanked for offering to donate a set ot clarionets for use in connection with the proposed orchestra at the hoys school. SCHOOL ROLL. The Rector (Mr H. P. Kidsun) reported that the total number ot hoys on the roll was 778, ol whom 29t) were seniors, -166 juniors, and twenty-two paying pupils. Tho correspond nig totals for Mav, 1929-&*, were respeo lively 72.1, 706, 766, 775, and 744. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to L 1,786 10s ,lld wore passed for payment. GENERAL. The Rector forwarded a list of the science material and apparatus required for the boys’ school, a total estimated cost of Llll 17s Id, and this was approved. . Mr W. R. Brugh was nominated to succeed tho late Mr J. C. Stephens on the University Council. AGRICULTURAL SUBJECTS. At the last meeting' of tho board the following resolution was carried: — “ The Otago High Schools’ Board expresses its svmpathy with tho desire to raise the status and value of the subject of agriculture m _ the various public examinations of Now Zealand. Jt is of tho opinion that, with a soho, scientific basis and an adequate practical training, agriculture should merit a higher assessment of examination marks than it at present enjoys. This resolution was forwarded to the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters), and his reply was received at tho ineeting. The Minister stated that the matter had engaged his attention for some time past. In his opinion the importance of agriculture as an examination subject would not he increased by making it an even easier option tor pupils of moderate ability than it was at the present time. It couldl be increased by raising considerably the standard required by insisting on a pru-pcrJv-balanccd stmlv ot fundamental sciences and by making it compulsory in competitive and in pass examinations, but this would require a complete revision of the post-primary courses and aims, and could not reasonably he adopted, lor example, in mixed Schools. Even if such a scheme could be adopted it was very doubtful whether it would produce any agricultural bias. A better plan probably would be the development iff organised school courses embracing cognate subjects suitable for boys intending to become farmers. . . , Air Masters agreed with the board in regard to tho subject having a solid scientific basis as well as there being adequate practical training, but even then he did not think the subject should carry higher examination marks than it did now. At, the present time in the international examination agriculture and dairy science were two separate subjects, each with 200 marks. •As these two subjects were practically inseparable as far as agriculture, as commonly understood, was concerned, the subject of agriculture received 400 marks, which was equal to that of any other subject in the syllabus. Mr Masters said that it was just a question whether or not the 4JO marks were not gained rather easily m agriculture and dairy science. He was advised that the prescription in dairy science was not worth 200 marks at the intermediate standard, and that the agriculture prescription was barely | worth 200 marks. When these prescriptions were drawn up the fact that practical work was limited to the garden and the laboratory was kept rii view. Now that there was widespread extension work to farms, and beeans-, of the desirability of encouraging that phase of the course, it was probable that the prescription in agriculture might be altered somewhat, and the prescription in a dairy science recast to become one in dairying. But even then 200 marks for each subject would be sufficient since that was the number of marks allotted to tho science subjects in the examination. It would be difficult to frame a single prescription that would be universally accepted, added the Minister. A more satisfactory method would be to subdivide the agriculture group and allow the schools to offer two or more of these sub-divisions as had been permitted in the intermediate examination. A boy taking an agricultural course had been able to offer subjects not taken by his fellows in the academic course to a maximum of 800 or 1,000 marks.' It must not he overlooked that the university entrance scholarship examination was a competitive one for boys and girls, and if the university were persuaded to stiffen the prescription in agriculture, it would probably have to consider extending the prescription in some other subject taken by girls. The letter was received.