FARM SCHOOLS.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15998, 28 May 1924, Page 14

FARM SCHOOLS.

OPINIONS ON GENERAL POLICY SOUGHT. TECHNICAL CONFERENCE VIEWS. Another meeting of technical board members and technical school directors and teachers was held in Wellington, Mr W. F. Durward in the chair.

The sitting was devoted to consideration of a letter from the Education Department asking for opinions as to what the general policy of the Government in regard to farm schools should be) particularly in view of the fact that at more than one technical high school the question of the establishment of what is practically a farm school had recently been raised. The lcltcr proceeded: "At a eonforcince between representative-, of the Departments of Education and Agriculture, held some Ihrcc or four years ago, it was decided that the management and organisation -of farm schools should be a matter for the Department of Agriculture. This decision was reached on the grounds mainly 'that such farm schools should also serve as experimental farms for the demonstration of principles and methods to the farming community, and that the management of such a farm school should, accordingly, be in the hands of a sound practical farmer, and should be supervised by experts accustomed to dealing with the problems which confront the farmers in various parts of the country. It was understood that the main portion of the course in such a •farm school would consist of the practical application of principles studied by the boys in their preliminary school .course at a technical school or other secondary school, but would also 'include a certain amount of theoretical work and a considerable amount of practical work in the ordinary operations of the farm. It was hoped that the Department of Agriculture in a year or two would be able lo establish several such farm schools in different parts of the Dominion so that a reasonable number of youths could be turned out annually with a sound preparation for farming. Unfortunately, financial conditions since Lhc conference was held have not been favourable to the establishment of such farm schools by the Department of Agriculture, and there lias, therefore, been a tendency for certain technical high schools to seek to supply the obvious need foe practical training in farming for boys who have had a two or three-years' course in a technical school or other secondary school. One or two schools, technical and secondary, have attempted something of the sort in recent years, but apparently without any considerable success.

"1 should be glad if the conference would consider the question as v it stands at present with a view to expressing its opinion as to what the general policy of the Government should be. I may say in this connection that the Department has in respect of other vocations definitely laken up the position that it is not the function of educational institutions conducted under the Department lo provide purely trade training requiring the installation of trade machinery and tli!>. consumption of material on the scale of ordinary industrial establishment. Whether or not the same principle should be applied in the case of Lhc training -of boys for farm life is lhc uueslion on which the Department would be glad lo have the opinion of the conlercnce." Mr Wild, director of the Foilding Agricultural High School, spoke in

favour of such schools. ' Mr 11. W. King (Auckland) said Hint farm schools would cost a great deal of money. The agriculture given in the schools here did not appeal to boys, and what was really wanted was something which would appeal to parents. He believed that they should impress on the Minister the' advisability of appointing an experienced agricultural inspector lo go through the districts and report on the work dene.

Mr A Gray (Ilawera) considered it would be a very unwise thing to lose the sympathy of the farmers. In answer to a question, Mr La Trobe (Director of Technical Education) said the Department had been confronted with the problem of whether boys who had been getting agricultural instruction for a couple of years should be drafted into farm schools where, for the greater portion of their time they should be instructed :« the science and practice of farming. Owing to the slump it had been found impossible to proceed with any large scheme.

Mr A. Marshall (Duncdir.) considered that the agricultural course should be preceded by a couple of years of work in science.

Dr Hansen (Christehurcb) said he believed in the work being directed by the Education Department, hut that could not be done s?tisfactori!y without a farm school.

Mr Martin (Wairarapa) asked whether 'it would be possible to carry on a school farm on a paying basis. Mr J. P. Kalaughcr (Auckland) said that they could not carry on a school farm profitably. Dr. Hansen slated that the Rangiora authorities had a school farm with a manager, and the lass, after all expenses were paid, was infinitesimal.

On the motion of Mr Amess (JI a - wcra) it was decided: "That the conference dissonts from the decision arrived at by the conference of August, 1920. and advises the Minister that farm schools in connection with technical high schools or technical schools should be established by the Education Department."