AGRICULTURE.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 1169, 27 April 1910, Page 4

AGRICULTURE.

INSTRUCTION FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS.

NOTES ON TECHNICAL EDUOA-

Mil BR AIR'S REPORT.

In his latest report to the Wanganui Education Board, Chief Inspector -Uraik makes some .unusually interesting comments on the technical side of our education. We give quotations hereunder.

With the inclusion of Elementary Agriculture as an alternative course ot instruction in our District BMi bcliools there begins a new development in the connection between the school and the farm. The head teachers or four of the schools, in conjunction with Messrs Grant and Browne, are sparing no effort to put into practice the scheme adopted by the Board and approved by the Department: Unfortunately, Mr Williams, B.Sc., who was to take the purely scientific part of the course, has been compelled by ill-health 'to resign his position, which I fear will be> extremely difficult to fill. The question of scholarships arises—scholarships for the best of the pupils, boys and girls, that are taking; the agricultural course, as well as for those taking the literary and mathematical course. With respect to the latter pupils, I hope that their claims will not be overlooked for a moment. It is due to the pupils and to the State that real literary or mathematical merit should be recognised and encouraged, and that the special course is not designed for them unless the desire is specially expressed that they should take it. On the other hand, scholarships are required for clever boys and girls taking the agricultural course, and it would be a splendid thing if the Board, or the Board in conjunction with the County Councils and the A. and P. Associations, could award several scholarships annually to enable such pupils to proceed to the University or to Lincoln College. With respect to wool-class;ng, I am able to say that the classes have not filled up quite so readily as was ex-pe'-ted, but it is considered that too early a start has been made. There are requests from the more' remote centres for the services of an Instructor, and I have little doubt but that presently both Instructors will have as much on their hands as they can manage. Concerning Technical School Committees, I may be allowed a word or two by way of retrospect and anticipation. The Committees have done real service in the cause of education of social efficiency, but, on the other hand, they have themselves been educated in the aims, methods and Possibilities of continuation and technical instruction, a matter of very great conrequence, to the commmiitic's in which they live. Looking to the future, I am inclined to think, in the first place, that it would be to the advantage of some of the smaller technical schools if work now done by Ihe Committee were done by the School Committee. At such schools i'not much to do and members naturally dv not care to attend merely ki m-il meeting. In the second ]V.;v<\ i ieel that when the larger schoo..-, :ire free oi : debt—and it will not be a very •serious matter to secure an end so desirable—the Committees might very well be asked to undertake duties more responsible and onerous than those which they now perform