RURAL COURSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 853, 27 June 1910, Page 8

RURAL COURSE.

CLASSES IN AGRICULTURE. A CANTERBURY CONFERENCE. IXTNR.ESTINC; DISCUSSION. IB? TelacriiDh.— Pross Association.! Ciiristcliurch, .Tunc 21. A conference of members of the North Canterbury I'Mucalion Board, masters of district high schools, and head assistants ill secondary departments, was hold to-day to discuss a proposal to establish a "rural course" in district, high schools. There, was a large attendance of teachers, including Messrs. J. Jl. Howell (director of (he Technical College), and T. S.Foster, E. K. J'ulg.in, and \V. liroek (school insjifectoi-s). A suggested programme of work was presented l>y the inspectors in which the following hours were allotted: Hoys: English, 4;, arithmetic and book-hooping, 4; geography, 1; civics and economics, 1; elementary geometry and surveying, 2 ; woodwork, 2; scale drawing and building construction, 1; physical instruction, 1; agriculture, elementary physics, and chemistry, 2; hotany, 1; physiology (farm animals), 1; practical outdoor work, 2; total, 22. Girls: English, 4; arithmetic and book-keeping, 1; geogi aphy, 1: civics and economics, 1; hygiene, household economy, and dressmaking, 2; cookery, 2: physical instruction, 1; agriculture, elomentary physics, and chemistry, 2; botany, 1; physiology, and iir.si>aid, 1; practical outdoor work (more of this time might bo devoted to horticultural work and if possible to bee and poultry keeping and care of milk), 2; total, 21. The remaining hours it was noted, could bo devoted to study of another language or to adding to work in English, geography, and history, or be utilised in whatever way seemed best. Proposals Explained. The following memorandum was. appended: "The course of agriculture for district high schools is framed with the object of bringing about closer relationship between the work done in district high schools and occupations in which the- majority of the pupils will he engaged ai'ler leaving school, and moreover is of such a nature as will enable pupils to sit for civil service junior examinations at the end of the second year, or for the matriculation ac the end of the third or fourth year. Tile Senate of the New Zealand University, at its last annual meeting held in January, was unanimous in the opinion that a four-years' course of training was necessary to enable pupils fresh from the primary school to reach the standard required by the matriculation examination, so that we are not asking pupils who wish to matriculate to make any sacrifice by remaining at school until the close of the third or fourth year. The course sketched out. moreover, is not intended to be mandatory, but it is issued as a recommended scheme which headmasters may modify according to requirements of their respective districts, the only stipulation being that twenty hours per week must be given to the subjects of the programme. It is a matter of very great regret that such a small number of pupils continue their education beyond the primary school stage, and we would fain hope that this attempt on the part of the district high school to enter more closely into the life of the community will have the effect of causing a greater number of young people to take advantage of the training offered. .Much of the machinery required to give effect to these proposals is already in being, so that there ought to be no very serious difficulty in making such changes as may be" required in curricula and conditions of our district high schools. Suitable laboratories will be required whore these do not now obtain, and an additional instructor in woodwork, in cookery, and in dressmaking mav he needed. YYe already have our instructors in agriculture. Tho expense of providing these teachers should be easily met by extra capitation earned, and the cost of .laboratory requirements and equipment by a grant from the Department. The inspectors strongly recommend that the course be made compulsory in all schools except where exemptions under certain conditions might be granted. It is always difficult to forecast with accuracy revenue earned on a basis which to'some extent is lacking in stability, and so we are unable to say definitely what sum may be expected at the outcome of classes m agriculture, but as each unit making regular attendance for tho first year at least will bo .entitled to .Co 10s. per annum, and as'last year enrolment of pupils reached 281! of whom the very groat majority were of the •irst or second year, the amount of capitation earned ought to be considerable, and provide amply for additional expense in connection with mainteuance of tho classes proposed. It is to bo hoped, moreover, that the attendance at district high .schools when tho scheme is in operation will appreciably increase, and so briV a substantial addition to the amiuai earnings in capitation." Mr. J. K. Mulgan said that only about 2o per cent, of those who gained certificates of proficiency went on to district high schools, and it was thought that if the work at the latter schools were made morn attractive and "lore suitable for work in after Ijr,, then more pupils would be obtained! Hie programme prepared bv the inspectors for submission to the board was not such as to allow pupils to slnno at examinations, but I<> better prcpiiru them for work when they left school. The Proposals Criticised. Sir. C. I). Hardie said he heartily approved ot tho proposal to bring about a closer relationship between work done mi tin; district high schools and the occupations in which the majority of pupils would be engaged after leayjii" school, but be considered there were grave defects in the proposed scheme, it seemed to him that if the scheme were adopted the freedom of parents and teachers would be restricted, lio considered that practical agriculture to be taught should bo tho subject taken according to the junior civil service programme as the science subject in rural district high schools. Tho proposed scheme was altogether too rigid and inelastic. A second defect of tho scheme, it appeared to him, was that it rather left the humanistic side of education dwarfed in comparison with the- other, the realistic, which loomed too large. Miss GlanvMe said she had a lai-ro experience of country district hHi hcliooJs, and she did not think the adoption of the scheme would lead to an increase of pupils, for a great majority of those, attending the school were destined for professional or commercial careers. Only a very few pro]X>sed to become farmers. Mt. H. Langford said that at one time the work proposed to be curied out at the technical schools was ridiculed, but now the value of the work carried on at tho schools was properly appreciated. So it would be with scheme for agricultural instruction. The profossiions kmo becoming "crowded, and boys should lie encouraged to remain in the country, and should be prepared for their work as I'a.rniens. Mr. E. A. Just said the proposed sylMms was rather ton one-sided. Rii'dic.ie.nt oboice uns net allowed pn.rcnK as to the bran./hes of work l« be undertaken by their children. Further, tb'> separation of courses, <i!n.» for bovs and the other for girls, would mean tint Uiacbina staffs would havo to be in-,.

areasod. Subjects wore also included which were already sufficiently provided for .it prosoivt. The deficiency experienced, by many worker* at present was nob in the way of manual dexterity, but. in want of general education, and that .showed that general education, whii-:-.li would enable a man to take advantage of opportunities to advance, should not bt. sacrificed lor tin- sake of nia.mi.il training. The scheme proposed w:us m direct defiance of schemes adopted in America and on the Continent. Ho maintained that. agriculture was Ihmuj.; properly taught in the schools to-day. Dr, M'llraitli suit! it seemed to him that the present method of teaching agriculture in tlie country was doing little for the- fanning cor.mran.iity. fie Mas quite in sympathy with the protiosod programme of work as set out by *he inspectors. "An Utter Impossibility." Mr. Bean said flic proposed change was not asked for by pupils or parents, and was certainly not asked for by country people. The syllabus should be suited to the requirements of tlie people, and an agricultural course should not be forced upon them. It wovdd be an utter impossibility to carry out the courso proposed. If boys were to lie turned out as farmers, then they should bo given a good sound genera] education. The proposed syllabus would not increase attendance at the schools. It would involve largo expense, and would do no good at all. .Mr. A. Gray said that on Banks Peninsula all the boys wanted to go on to the laud, but that might he clue to the nature of the district. He was in favour of having a certaiu amount of agriculture taught in country schools, but to have a full agricultural course, excluding other subjects, would be a groat mistake. Mr. J. M. Howell said tlie scheme only proposed to give to children training which wonid enable them to take an intelligent interest in their rural work afterwards. The course was not a technical course, but an educative course. It seemed to him that preparation for matriculation or civil service examinations should bo confined to town schools, so that country schools could adapt more suitable courses bearing on rural life. What the Inspectors Want. Mr. jfnlgan, in roply to the points raised, said that most of what had been heard referred to those who wee already attending district high schools, but what the inspectors wanted to get at was the great hulk of the children who did not attend district high schools. If the proposed course were in operation, a number of new pupils would lie secured. He felt that there was great educative value in the course, and he would like to see more time given to English, but did not see bow it could lie done, if it was necessary to introduce a system of rural training, then he did not see what better syllabus could be adopted for the present than the one proposed. The training was not intended to apply to town apprentices, but to those who wore likely to take up country work. The conference then closed.