RURAL SCIENCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 May 1925, Page 8

RURAL SCIENCE.

defended by boabd

MINISTER\S ATTITUDE CRITICISED

The statement made in Now Ply inmouth recently by the Minister c.f J'-idu-cat ion (the Hon. C. >J. Parr) regarding his attitude towards rural science anci manual classes was seveiel.v criticised at the monthly meeting or the Education Board on Wednesday when, oil the motion of the Bey. J. L. A. Ivayd, seconded by the chairman, -Mr fc>. G. Smith, M.P.. the following resolution was carried : •'That this board regrets the attitude of the Minister of Education, as -expressed during his recent visit to Taranaki, towards the rural science and manual training classes. Ibis branch, of education is recognised by the highest authorities as being an integral part of modern education and essential to the normal development of the child mind. This board, confident, that it was the po'icy of the Department, has established these classes on a high standard which is being efficiently maintained by competent and enthusiastic officers. The Minister’s statement has had. the unfortunate effect of seriouslv undermining the authority of the board, tending to reduce to insignificance a work c,f very great importance.” Mr A. Lees said that the board had arrived at a stage when it should decide its policy in regard to manual classes —whether they should bp. continued or allowed to drop. With the Department’s approva' the board had worked these classes up until now they were on a good footing and, under the present manual supervisor (Mr R. CL Bidlimr) and with ordinary circumstances, splendid results would have been obtained this year. To make more use of the children’s time while attending manual, c'asses, the board had instituted the rural science instruction Now that the Department would not sanction the science classes and would only allow children three hours to attend manual classes, it would be impossible for the hoard to carry the classes on as not , all the children could attend the centres of instruction within half a. day. Tfc was unfortunate also, said Mr Lees, that the statements made bv *ha Minister of Education ro-om-din" the classes were made pub'iv throughout Taranaki, it was a severe knock to the board, which had put the classes on a sound basis. Ho thought the Minister had gone too far in saying that moie attention should be given to the three It’s. Every member of the board realised that that was the basis of education, but there was no reason whv education could not he improved in other directions. The statement gave a lead to many parents in the belief that the children were better at their own schools instead of attending manual classes. Mr F. H. Sim said that if the ruva 1 classes were eat out there would he disappointment in his district where, with deteriorating lands, there was greater need for fields instruction than perilaps anywhere. » Mr P. J. H. White said that while the three B’s were first and foremost there was the strongest evidence in favour of the encouragement of instruction in sciences in primary schools. He.thought the Minister did not intend to convey the impression he did. “The slogan of the three B’s is i very good one indeed.” said the Rev J. L. A. Kay 11, ••but it is a mistake to tliink that they aie the limit of education.” That was the minimum in tlie early, days of education, but to set that doivn its the maximum in these advanced times was'setting'a very lor. standard, lie thought. There was th. cry for vocational training, and the only way to do that was to brinthe .child face to face with such instruction as was given in these manual classes. He considered it would be a most reactionary step to drop the classes. He felt that the attitude of the department, which at first hat' encouraged the classes, and now disfavoured them, towards the board warverging upon an ac-t of disloyalty. Mr. Dempsey hoped that the classes would not he dropped as, their great value was in teaching children to think for themselves.

Mr. Valentine, senior' inspector, in speaking on the matter, said it was a fact that by training the hand the brain was developed. No educationalist to-day would’ attempt to dispute that, and it would be a sorry day fo: New Zealand if ever manual clnssewere dropped. He mentioned, how ever, that if these classes in the! present form were dropped other form of manual instruction would be ..vr in the schools. The chairman said it was to the credit of the board in the past tliai its gave as good instruction to count/ children as to town in manual training. -What was done in Tarana'was not done an.whe e else in Xeu Zealand, and to avoid child -en wasting time and .loitering around towns when attending manual classes the rural science was developed. The positin', in Taranaki to-day was that by an unfortunate utterance the Min ste had given people an impression Thai he was not in favour of the boa re teaching subjects that we ,- e in the syllabus. He thought the Minister’? attention should be drawn to the farreaching effect of his utterance, to nr. which inferences were being drawn 1; parents who had not a full realisatio • of the position.

After*some further comment the resolution quoted was carried unanimously.