RURAL EDUCATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7956, 5 February 1906, Page 7

RURAL EDUCATION.

+ THE MOVEMENT SPREADING. The question of imparting some knowledge of rural science to children in country sohools is engaging the attentiou of a number of Education Boards in the colony. That tbe establishment of sunb classes is a step in the right direction is generally admitted. A very practical result of school gardens is conveyed in a letter received by the Manawatu A. and P. Association from a member residing in the Kimbolton district. This settler writes that one man at Kimbolton, who has a large family, informed him that he had no trouble about growing vegetables now, as his children took great interest in their gardens at home and kept them very well since they bad bad gardens at tbe school. A commendable departure has been made by the Manawatu A. and P. Association in the schedule of its winter show, viz,, a number of prizes are to be given for vegetables from roots grown in the school gardens. The North Canterbury Education Board is tbe latest body to take tbe matter up of establishing these classes. They are considering the question of engaging a special instructor at a salary of £250 a year. Eight agricultural schools are to be established in Victoria. According to the soheme proposed, before any school is established at least fifty students mnst be guaranteed, the fee to be charged being two guineas per term. A system of local responsibility and control will also be established, and tbe residents of any district, where a school is to be established will be asked to. meet half the coßt of erecting buildings and equipping the farm. The area for each farm will be about twenty acres, and it is intended to transfer a great part of the experimental work, now being carried on by the department, to these sohools. The total cost of the equipment of each building will be about £I,BOO, and the local contribution will be between £750 and £I,OOO. In view of the cc-operation by districts it is proposed to constitute a local committee *;o assist in supervising the curriculum. Out of every ten students this committee will have the privilege of nominating one student for a free course of instruction.