BEE-KEEPING FOR CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1932, Page 6

BEE-KEEPING FOR CHILDREN

SUCCESS OF COURSE IN SCHOOLS.

COMMENT BY EDUCATION BOARD.

Complimentary references to the success of the. bee-keeping course for school children conducted by Mr. H. D. Maxwell were made at yesterday’s meeting of the Tarariaki Education Board, when reports were received , from Mr. D. Mackay,* instructor in agriculture, and Mr. J. A. Valentine, deputychairman of the board.; It was decided to congratulate Mr. Maxwell on the success of the course and the manner in which he was conducting it.

* Mr. Mackay reported that a successful field day was held, in connection with the bee-keeping course inaugurated by Mr. W. Dill-Macky and conducted by Mr. Maxwell and the headmasters of Okato, Warea and Puniho schools. Mr. Maxwell’s methods had been markedly successful, particularly on the practical side, where boys and girls handled bees with confidence arid skill. The in-door instruction was also thoroughly successful. Valuable notebooks were being compiled and in this, as in the beecarpentry, demonstrated by Mr. Maxwell, the teachers played their part.

Mr. Valentine also reported having attended the bee-keeping field day. The display was intended to show how easily the children who had entered upon a course of instruction by Mr. Maxwell adapted themselves to the conditions and to reveal the -practical nature of the training given. So far three schools, Okato, Puniho and Warea, had taken up the . subject in earnest and the teachers were to be congratulated on their wholehearted support of Mr. Maxwell’s efforts. The instructor and' the children took part in demonstrations at two apiaries and to most of the adults present it was a source of great surprise to see how fearlessly the children handled the frames and, when occasion required, the bees also. Mr. Maxwell seemed to be a born teacher and, though the course had been going for only about months, it was evident that the instruction had been entirely practical and most effective. In his efforts he was warmly supported by Mr. Dill-Macky,. the instructor in charge of the area.

The conclusion of the display was spoiled by heavy rain, but it was plain that this branch of nature .study was most popular and it should prove one of the most profitable courses which the board had as yet encouraged. The course of instruction included , the practical side of bee-keeping, the study of the life of the bee, the construction by the children of masks for protecting the head, of frames for the storeys of the hives, and the care of the money obtained. The school committees. concerned had given solid support to the movement, thus expressing their seuge of the value of the mo wntai.