VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1930, Page 9

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

(AGRICULTURE FOR STANDARD SIX REQUIREMENTS IN TARANAKI. A report on the inclusion of vocational subjects in the requirements of Standard VI. pupils for the attainment of proficiency certificates was submitted to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday by Mr. J. A. Valentine at the board’s request. Mr. Valentine stated a discussion on the question had taken place between the senior inspector (Mr. N. R. McKenzie) and himself and they had been greatly helped by suggestions from Mr. R. G? Ridling, agricultural instructor. As the outcome of the discussion it had been decided to inform teachers that definite tests in rural science would be set and the results for. each pupil would be taken into consideration before any attainment certificate was awarded. In the same way the results shown on the progress card of each pupil atending a manual centre would be considered before a certificate would be awarded.

The report expressed the hope that by this procedure it would be made to appear that good teaching' in those subjects would be recognised and duly appraised and that the subjects were regarded as of educational value to the pupils. ft was proposed, said Mr. Valentine, that Mr. Riffling set an examination in

agriculture or rural- science before the end of the year and that the marks awarded be taken into account by the inspectors before certificates were awarded. Mr. P. J. ‘White asked if the condition would claah“ with those existing in other education districts and was informed that a science was compul-

sory in all districts and in Taranaki thia science was agriculture. The Hon. S. G. Smith said one teacher had told him frankly that the reason why many teachers did not concentrate more on instruction in agriculture was because they considered it did not count in any way towards higher grading. . Mr. McKenzie: That is not so. Agri-

cultural teaching is very definitely taken into account in grading. When alterations are to bo made, we have before us not only a report from the instructor on the capabilities of teachers of agriculture, but also a summary of their work from the instructor. Mr. Smith then seconded tho proposal and it was carried unanimously.