EDUCATION’S VALUE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 83, 20 March 1928, Page 9

EDUCATION’S VALUE.

DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER. INCULCATION OF LOVE OF AGRICULTURE. Speaking at the opening of the new District High School at Ohakune on Friday last, the Minister of Education (the Hon. R, A. Wright) said that young people were desirous, of acquiring higher education, but it was of no use to them unless they could digest and assimilate it. The voung people of this country, he said were capable of assimilating higher education and although there were diversified opinions regarding the curriculum, all were agreed that a sound education should be given The syllabus should contain something that would be the means of developing a robust character. It was not only to the advantage of scholars but to those associated with them, and the State.

Everything should be done to inculcate love of agriculture in our boys. There was a tendency to look upon the worker on the land as not being so high up the scale as other workers. This was not true. The man on the land was the bone and sinew of the country, and the boy should be so trained in h's young days that

when he worked the land he did so on scientific lines, Continuing, yhe Minister said it was difficult to know what to sav to the giris. The girl who attended high school was better able to manage a home, and this was better for the country as a whole. There was a political side, however, as fhev all became voters. In Great Britain the franchise was being enlarged and women were going to have a great voice tn affairs, and from every noint of view there was every reason to educate girls as well as boys.