AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 281, 23 August 1919, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

A PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT

MINISTER OF EDUCATION

APPROVES

PROPOSES TO MAKE GRANT

The suggestion that agricultural comDetitions tor young peoplo should "bo promoted in New Zealand has tho hearty approval of the Minister of Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan). "I believo that it is a most up-to-dato and progressiva movement for encouraging industry among hovs anil girls, and of imparting knowledge of scientific methods of production from the soil," said tho Minister yesterday. "The suggestion is not exuorirnental at all. It is simply the application to New Zealand of a scheme that has provod highly successful in the United States. More than three million American boys and girls are enrolled in agricultural clubs, and the number 10 crowing. Tho supervising authorities boliove that the total will reacti fi-vo million. All these young peoplo aro Rotting knowledge and inspiration that vail be of life-long service to them and to their country. "Tho Americans are not hesitating to onond money on the provision of agricultural education for the boys and girls. Tho Federal appropriation to tho States this year for the salaries of instructors in agricultural subjects is ,£IOO,OOO, and tho sum is to bo increased by annual increments until it reaches .£600,000 in 1926. The method of expenditure of this monev is illustrated by an Act of the New York Legislature providing, for the employment of directors of agriculture in cities, towns, and school district* not maintaining a school of agriculture, mechanics, arts, and homo-making. Iho purpose of this Act is to employ persons who shall devote their time to interesting young persons in practical agriculture and giving technical instruction accompanying their practical work; and also to encourage cities and villages to employ supervisors for school, home, and vacant-lot gardening. The Commissioner of Education i 6 authorised to apportion to each city, town, or 6chool district employing or joining in tho employment of a director of agriculture, a sum equal to one-half of the salary naid to such director. 'The oV iect of this work,' states • an offieial bulletin, 'is to encourage boys and girls to undertake agricultural enterprises adapted to their home conditions. The projects may include poultry, pig and '.'alt-raising,-growing a certain area of general garden or corn, potatoes, or other farm crops." Mr. Hanan added that he had watched the development of the scheme in tho United States with very great interest. Ho noticed that in tho State of Montana last year tho Legislature made ugricul- i ture a compulsory subject in tho elementary schools. Tho school syllabus included "Homo l'roject )V&rk," and Hie Stats subsidised eipenditure under this heading to.tho extent of 50 per ccut. The children, in tact, were encouraged by the educational authorities to undertake tho cultivation of Die soil, tho raising of poultry and other productive work at their own homes. In Minnesota last year about 5000 boys' and girls' agricultural clubs were organised m the. rural districts. Senior teachers acted as county club leaders, and directed the work, '.'.lie pupils of a single school usually formed a club, nnd worked in competition with the other clubs. Export instruction was provided for the club members, and iho results achieved in the way of intonsivc production werq simply wonderful. Tho Minnesota agricultural clubs last year raised corn,- potatoes, pigs, calves, poultry, and vegetables, canned fruit, and made bread.

The agricultural club movement, said the Minister, had taken an interesting ionii in Indiana, where Mongomerie County had evolved what was described officially as "the ideal organisation for agricultural club vork." "The work in tliiji county," stated the authorities, "is being directed by tlio county superintendent of schools, and the county agricultural agent, working through a committee representing the Board of Education and such allied county organisations as tlie Community Association, the County Fair Association, tlio Home Economics Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Live Stock Breeders' Association. The fullest co-operation is assured from the banks, grain elevators, and business men. The teachers and their officials and supervisors arc interested, and in sympathy with tho movement. Each township will employ at least one teacher as a club supervisor. While the schools are in session each township supervisor .will devolo time outside of school horn's to visiting schools, arousing interest and getting enrolments. At the close of school tho time of the- township supervisor will bo spent in visiting club lt.embers and giving instruction. A county director of club work, giving full time to his task, is employed for the full year. II) is to work with tho township supervisors and teachers, under th> direction of tho county superintendent and county agent. Ho will train supervisors, assist in providing instruction 111 agriculture, distribute literature, and correlate the work generally. Township and county exhibits, demonstration teams, club meetings, and frequent conferences are planned."

During the year ended Juno 30, 1917, there wero in tho 33 Northern and Western Slates of tho United States 1124 paid club leaders working in connection with tho boys' and girls' agricultural clubs. In addition to tho paid lenders thero were 9748 volunteer club leaders. About 240 club, leaders were paid co-operatively by the State Governments and the United States Department of Agriculture, 133 by tho State agricultural colleges and tho local people, 18 by the colleges alone, and 733 by the local people. These figures, said Mr. Hanan, were of interest as showing the extent to which Iho agricultural club schemes had received the support, of the community in the United State. Tho Americans had learned by practical experience that tho schemo was a good one, that it developed tho characters of the young people along sound lines, and lh.it it increased production by dissominoting knowledge of scontific methods o( cultivating the soil.

"I realiso fully tho importance of tho proposal to introduco tho agricultural club system into this country," added tho Minister, "and I havo caused to bo placed on tho draft Supplementary Estimates, for the consideration of Cabinet, an iniiial vote'fur the. oncoiiirngcmeut of agricultural instruction and home economics. If this money becomes available it will assist in the initiation of a scheme that 1 believe will prove of very great value to Iho Dominion."