AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13917, 31 May 1909, Page 2

AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS.

A correspondent having questioned the wisdom of tho Education Board's proposal to appoint an instructor in agriculture, and inquired what such an instructor could do. the. secretary to the Technical Classes Association forwards in reply a letter dated I4th inst.. from t.lie secretary to the Board of Education in which the Board's proposal is explained. This states that the Board recognises the great importance of this bra ncli of education to this district, and that the work should be controlled by a person qualified for his position. He would need to possess experience in scientific and experimental farming, teaching ability, and 'high scientific knowledge. His duties would probably be to supervise and teach agricultural, classes in primary and secondary schools, train teachers in the work of agricultural education. conduct classes for adults in technical schools, and also give lectures to farmers in tlie different centres. To obtain . the services of such a man the. Board would need to offer a good salary, and as the Board itself could not find the money, it was decided to ask the A., and P. Associations, the Countv Councils, the High School and the managers of Technical Classes for grants in aid, which would be doubled by Government subA new regulation regarding manual and technical instruction, gazetted last week, provides that where in the secondary department of a district high school a course of agricultural instruction approved by the Minister is taken regularly by not less than ten punils for not less than twenty hours a" week regularly throughout the school year, a payment not exceeding £'o 10s per annum may be made on account of each pupil who has regularly attended the classes included in such course.