The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1912. THE RURAL COURSE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10, 5 September 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1912. THE RURAL COURSE.

The very interesting interview with Mr Robert Masters which appears in another column of this issue should awaken wide interest in an educational question which touches a large number of the sons of North Island farmers. Mr Masters is a progressive and a worker, and having accepted election to a seat on the Education, Board, is determined to do his best to advance educational interests. The subject now referred to is one to which

he has given considerable attention, and recently Mr Masters wrote to the Chairman of the Taranaki Board expressing the view that while it was likely that a Model Dairy Farm would eventually be established in Central Taranaki, it might lie well if the Taranaki and Wanganui Education Boards joined forces in an endeavour to obtain an Agricultural College for the North Island on the Momohaki State Farm. This scheme could certainly

be made easier by devoting part of the accrued funds from the Opakau Reserves for more advanced education in Agriculture, without in any nay entrenching on the established scholar l - 1 ships. That there is some need for an alteration to the system, to prevent injustice to students whose lot in life will most probably be connected with the land and farming rather than with the professional walks in which the more classical education is required, is generally admitted. In February of this year, it may be remembered, matters in connection with Taranaki scholarships were considered in conference by Messrs Harold Triable, Arthur Morton, and \V. McL. Kennedy, who, after consultation with the Chief Inspector, recommended that it be suggested to the University Senate that the Education Act of 1908 should be modified in one clause by the substitution of the Matriculation Examination for the Junior University Scholarship Examination as the qualifying examination for tine Taranaki scholarships. The statement of accounts submitted by the Public Trustee of “The Taranaki Scholarships Endowment Act, 1910,” to 31st March, 1912, shows a very considerable sum of money to have accrued, and anxious as Taranaki educationalists are to make good use of this money, knowing full well how much it is needed and what great good it would do, they are practically blocked wihdle the fund continues to grow to tempting proportions. The position, in brief, is that so far flic Taranaki Scholarships under the Endowment are awarded on the results of the Junior Scholarship Examination of the .University, and to be successful a candidate must ohtani credit at this high standard. One or more scholarships as the funds admit, may he offered annually, but under existing regulations not more than one

scholarship in any one year to any one school. To commence at the beginning wo have the scholarships which cnane primary school children to take further study at the High Schools. These scholarships are set qu te fairly and are open to children up to lour (.eon years of age. When these students join the High School they difkrenti.ile into courses of study, some taking the classical and in certain schools—such as that excellent institution at Strat-

ford for instanceI—a 1 —a larger percentage preferring, in view of their life s woik, a rural course. It is here We injustice, never, of course, intended, cones in, for after two years at the Hi gn School on a Junior Board scholarship, only those who have taken the classical course can win a Senior Scholarship with three years further tuition. 'Jim s makes five years in all before the big thing—the Taranaki Scholarship—is within grasp. What appears to be the solution would be that the Education Boards might provide Rural Senior Scholarships and at the completion of the first course students obtain ng these would be able to compete under conditions providing for a furthci course in rural or agricultuial subjects and those subjects allied with them in scientific fanning. This would necessitate the establishment of an Agricultural College for the North Is-

land, -but there is no legitimate reason why the North should he less well, treated than the South Island which j already possesses Lincoln College. It : does not appear that there should he j any real difficulty in making a dcsirahie and beneficial change, because it is now provided that a Taranaki Scholarship may be awarded ‘on the Junior University examination “or sue. ■ other examination as the Senate, with the approval of the Minister, decides. There is, accordingly, no need for any alteration of the Act; it is merely a cjuestion of convincing the Senate and the Minister that the students taking a rural course are not having a quite lair run. So far, to reach the t niversitv, the Matriculation Examination

has to be passed: roughly this means j five hours oach week for lour in the study of languages: students who take a rural course do not necessarily take languages at all. i'ram the above it may be possible to gam some idea, of the importance of the question Mr Masters opens up, to the young farmers of the whole of this Island.

QUICK WORK. That at least one New Zealand teacher has shaken'the dust off her feet is madevident by the following store from the Sydney “Telegraph” of August, 28tn. A fortnight prior, it appears, a New Zealand visitor called at the Sydney Education Department’s office to ask what chance there was of a qnabfico teacher obtaining employment. With a shortage of teachers present, tt.ie appointment registrar, Mr T. Green, explained hurriedly that duly qualified j teachers were always certain of favour-1 able consideration, and suggested that , the application covering a certificate as | to status might lie sent along. On | the morning of August 27th, a young i lady arrived from the Dominion by 1 the Ulimaroa, and almost without wait-; ing to remove the traces of travel rush- i ed”round to the department. Inquiry! showed that no application for appointment had been received, hut it came along by the afternoon’s mail, having been distanced in the race by the fair candidate for employment. Interviews with the Chief Inspector, the Director of Education, and the Public , Service Board followed. Everything was in order. “Can yon he here, at nine o’clock for medical inspection ?” asked the registrar. The lady was swept off her feet. “Why, 1 only arrived this morning,” she said. “1 want to have a look round Sydney. Can t you delay my appointment for a weex. With infinite tact the registrar explained that it was only because ho thought the candidate wanted instam employment that he had expedited matters. Who (asks the “Tclegrapa ) talks of red-tape after this?