35

E.—s

science, but that it can be made a valuable means of education. The teaching in general also appears gradually to become more scientific. The total grants for the year by way of initial capitation for tools amounted to i'6o. It were well if the Department could see its way to grant capitation for this branch of science in Standard 111 also, as that class naturally goes with the upper standards in schools staffed with two teachers. This ought to be readily granted, for, as mentioned above, we do not propose to teach agriculture as a technical subject, but as a concrete medium of education. Viewed in this way the subject has claims for capitation from the lowest class. The London Times during 1905 interested itself greatly in "rural education," and obtained, among others, a special report on " Developments in England." According to the writer, " From an educational point of view it seems unfortunate that the Government grant is only given for boys over eleven years of age, and that it is only possible for so few boys to learn. Gardening should be a part of the general curriculum of the rural school, as it is in the Macdonald schools in Canada, not a subject for the few." The Board recognised that a school does not do its duty to the community in which it is situated if its curriculum tends to divorce the feelings of the pupils from the calling of the locality. Hence its ready support of the proposal to join with Nelson, Grey, and Westland in engaging an expert to foster the teaching of elementary agriculture. This led to the appointment of Mr. Bruce, who has expressed himself highly pleased with the progress made and with the spirit manifested by the teachers in the attempt to adapt the science to the ends of education. The annual report (1906) of the Board of Agriculture, England, which has been kindly placed in my hands by Mr. Chaytor, refers to school gardens. According to this there are upwards of four hundred scattered over thirty-two counties. The gardens vary from one-eighth to half an acre, with, roughly, 1 rood to each pupil. The largest number learning gardening at any one school was fifty-six, and the smallest five. Two hours a week were said to be devoted to gardening. In various places throughout the kingdom are also evening-school gardens. Many universities and colleges provide teachers' courses and extension lectures. The experience of other countries is valuable, for it frequently gives us suggestions for our own use. School classes in Cookery were successfully continued at Fairhall and Marlboroughtown Schools. The former captured five medals at the New Zealand Exhibition, one exhibitor—a boy — taking first prize in an open class. During the past year the technical school in Blenheim was opened, and school classes in cookery organized under the capable management of Miss Mcintosh. The Department arranged for passages on the railway, and thus pupils were enabled to come from Picton, Waitohi, and Tuamarina to Blenheim. Spring-lands, Blenheim, and Marlborough High School also sent classes, and the cookery room has thus made a prosperous beginning. Woodwork. —Difficulties in regard to an instructor hindered the opening of the woodwork room, but this subject, too, is now making headway. Other Classes. —Evening classes in arithmetic, English, book-keeping, brush drawing, commercial arithmetic, commercial geography, algebra, and singing were held at two schools. Marlboroughtown excelled during 1906 in the handwork exhibits of the agricultural and pastoral show. Not only brush drawing, plasticine, &c, but cookery and many varieties of preserves made an admirable collection. Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1906, in respect of Special Classes conducted at Blenheim, Canvastown, Havelock, and Picton. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Capitation on special classes " .. .. 26 16 10 ■ Balance at beginning of year .. .. 117 4 Capitation on account of free places .. 211 6 Salaries of instructors .. .. .. 36 16 5 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 10 0 0 Advertising and printing .. .. .. 4 4 8 Fees .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Lighting and heating .. .. .. 415 9 Special grants for instruction of teachers .. 125 0 0 Material for class use .. .. .. 217 7 Sale of material .. .. .. .. 2 14 Cleaning and attendance .. .. .. 12 0 Furniture, fittings, apparatus .. .. 18 17 0 Balance at end of year .. .. .. 101 8 11 £181 9 8 £181 9 8 John Smith, Secretary.

NELSON. Extract from the Report of the Education Board. The Nelson Technical School has been fairly well attended during the year, no marked fallingoff in attendance at the various classes having taken place except in those for architectural and mechanical drawing. During the year classes have been held in the following subjects—viz., architectural and mechanical drawing, woodwork, dressmaking, plumbing, drawing, painting, modelling, cooking, wood-carving, and mathematics; continuation classes in English, arithmetic, French, shorthand, and book-keeping. A commercial class comprising shorthand, typewriting, and book-keeping was commenced during the year, and is very much appreciated. Technical classes have also been held at the following schools: Reefton, dressmaking; Wakefield, cookery, dressmaking, and a commercial class comprising shorthand, typewriting, and book-keeping. School classes for dressmaking and cookery have been held at Richmond and Wakefield, and for cookery and woodwork at the Nelson Technical School, dressmaking being taught at the Toitoi Valley School. School classes in cookery, woodwork, and dressmaking have also been held at the Keefton Technical School. Teachers' classes in the following subjects have been held in Nelson—viz., drawing, woodwork, wood-carving, physics, and chemistry.