The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1914. AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 283, 27 November 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1914. AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION.

As an outcome of the Board of Agri-| culture’s memorandum on the subject of teaching stock-judging to pupils of Primary Schools, the Auckland Education Board lias endorsed {-he principle of giving the boys of suitable age facilities for obtaining special knowledge which may be of infinite value to them in this land where farming and agriculture play such an important part. Mr E. K. Mulgan, the Auckland Board’s Chief Inspector, who has been paying special. attention to the question, lias reported that extremely valuable training leading to the acquisition of much useful knowledge could he given to hoys in Standards V. and VI. by the Farmers’ Unions if they were to arrange for demonstrations on stock-judging by competent members from time to time. The demonstrations could he held in some central locality at which pupils from schools within reach could attend. Prior to attending these demonstrations, however, pupils should receive instruction from their teachers on the physiology of farm animals, so that they may be in a position to follow and profit by the demonstrator’s remarks and directions. Mr Mulgan says that, in this connection, he would recommend, that application be made to the Department of Agriculture, asking it to undertake the publication and issue of suitable charts to be supplied to the schools, and used by teachers in illustrating their instruction. This is an important matter, for without some previous knowledge of the build and structure of the animals in question, and some familiarity with the terminology employed, the demonstrations would lose much in their utility value. Mr Mulgan also suggests to his Board that the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations could render important assistance by arranging for judging competitions at their various shows, foi boys actually attending school. The Farmers’ Unions could also help in the efforts to spread some knowledge of elementary agriculture through the medium of the school garden, if they were to prepare experimental pints in central localities. To some extent, at least, these facts have been realised in Taranaki, and at Stratford useful work has been done in the school garden. At the same time we might with advantage go a great deal further in the direction Mr Mulgan indicates. v