RURAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16986, 8 November 1920, Page 6

RURAL EDUCATION.

SCHEME FOR IMPROVEMENT.

BY BOARD OP AGRICULTURE

One of the subjects discussed by the JJoard of Agriculture at meetings held last week with a large attendance of members was rural education.

Dr Rcakes, Director-General of Agriculture, reported that tho recommendations with regard to this subject that the Board Tmd 111 ado to the Council of Agriculture had been subsequently brought forward and discussed at a conference called in Wellington between the Agriculture and Education I>epartments to deal with the matter of ruriil education, and that this gathering had "endorsed most of the suggestions thathad been made by tho Board. Stepshad been taken to define the sphere of action of tho officers of l>oth Departments. It had been decided that the instructors of the Education Boards should deal with rural education in the primary, secondary, and technical schcols; while tho officers of tho Department of Agriculture should undertake tho practical farm trniving of the fanners and of the boys who had-left school. Pending the securing of a sufficient numbed of instructors to meet requirements the field officers and instructors of tho two Departments should work in co-operntion. Steps were also taken to provide for the training of more instructors in tho various branches of agriculture, both, for the Department of Agriculture and for tho Education Department. It was urged that facilities for 'teaching tho subjects required for tho B.A. pass in agricultural science and for advanced agricultural science for tho B.Sc. degree should be provided at each of the University colleges; and further, that increased encouragement should be given to students at tho training colleges, who show a special aptitude for agricultural work, to procced to an agricultural college to complete their training. It had also been agreed between the two Departments, that a bureau of information and guidance should be established to indu?o lads from secondary afld technical schools, as well as teachers and other to pursue a course of study in agriculture and to advise them concerning the steps they Bhould take. BOYS ANl> GIRLS' CLUBS. Tho conference also endorsed the recommendation of the Board that steps should bo taken to initiate agricultural clubs for boys and girls, in various parts of New Zealand, on similar lines to those which had been found of such great service in Canada, and United States of America, in awakening an interest in improved methods of raising crops and live stock. Dr. Reakes stated no would be glad to have the views of the Board as to the best methods to bring the A. and P. Associations and other organisations into this movement. After some discussion, the Board recommended that an organiser should be appointed to visit the different districts and the A. and P. Associations, etc., that wished to start clubs of this description in their centres, and that a sum of money should, be. set aside for tho purpose. Further, that tho A. and P. Associations bo invited to cooperate in the movement by opening special classes, and offering, prizes for the best animals or produco exhibited by members of such clubs.