RURAL EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1916, 26 November 1913, Page 10

RURAL EDUCATION.

y. -SUCrCJESTION'S I'TvO.U LEVIN. A series of resolutions lias hson received by the Education. Hoard from tho Levin School Coniniitt'o. with regard to the curriculum of the District High School in that town. The resolutions wero to the effect th.it the agricultural instruction was too meagre and general to be of any practical value; that it led to )io delimta endthat it was not linked' up with the agricultural colleges and experiment farms; that the curriculum was 'crowded' with too many subjects for Full and effective instruction in any of them; that no distinction was made between tho .sexes i and the different types of scholar: that | no provision was made for specialising in view of a calling; and that the door to the University was closed unless extra coaching was obtained', and paid for, outsido tho school hours. The committee suggested that the system amended iu order better to suit the. needs of every type of scholar, and with the practical idea of fitting the children lor a vocation in life. The board's inspectors reported' io yesterday's meeting that, acting under instructions, tliev had considered the recommendations im conference. Thoy painter! out that- it was practically impossible in a school staffed 1 as a district high school to carry out' satisfactorily programmes designed to meet the needs of every type of scholar, and that it would he a difficult matter ■with only two teachers to prepare scholars for the University, fur all the public, examinations, and for rural life, at 0110 ami the same time—unless tho pupils consented lo take extra work in such subjects as mathematics and language,, out of school hours. The inspectors agreed that the agricultural instruction was not linked up with the agricultural colleges. The. present programme was designed to meet the requirements of the rural course, and to prepare scholars for tho intennccjiato cr Civil Service junior examinations. The general work in this department ranged from satisfactory to good. The inspectors recommcixled laboratory work in the science section of tho rural course. With regard to outside work, they recommended that the present-area under cultivation be reduced. The report was adopted. A peculiar disease has made its appearance in conic of the Cambridge vegetable .gardens. According iLo tho Auckland "Star." it attacks the potatoes. the first sign being a blackening of tho haulms just above ground, tho leaves, however, appearing bright and healthy. In a few days the haulms havo rotted right through and givo off an offensive odour. In one patch of Early Puritan potatoes inspected a day or two ago, tliere were about one in overv ilozeu roots destroyed through this cause, and it appears to be a worthy—or unworthy—rival to. tho familiar Irish blight.