AGRICULTURAL TEACHING.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1933, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL TEACHING.

The results achieved by the pupils of the Taranaki primary schools and the members of the Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs are very cheering. The Pukearuhe school has regained for the province the coveted Henry Lane Shield for field work by school pupils, an achievement that is the greater for coming from one of the smaller schools. The good effects of the Boys and Girls’ Clubs were demonstrated also in the splendid entries in the calf-rearing competitions. When school pupils can lead into the judging ring 400 head of young stock that in the opinion of practical experts were almost uniformly of high quality, and every one of which bore proof of wise care and attention, the value of the clubs to the education System of the Dominion needs no further demonstration. Not only ‘have the clubs created a spirit of healthy rivalry among school pupils but they have stimulated the interest of parents and of farmers generally in the movement. The Boys and Girls’ Clubs have hitherto provided the most effective application of the desired bias towards agriculture that has been evolved, and they have done so at remarkably little cost to the State. The clubs have made personal interest in a State system of education real and continuous. Parents, teachers and other departmental experts have combined to aid the work of the clubs, and to create interest in the work of the farm as well as training school pupils in duties which many of them will have to perform as part of their life work. The children have responded splendidly. Is it too much to hope that some means of keeping alive the “club” spirit and teaching may be found possible for the boys and girls when they leave their schools?