The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1911. RURAL COURSES AT HIGH SCHOOLS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 May 1911, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1911. RURAL COURSES AT HIGH SCHOOLS.

An aspect of pastoral a,ml agricultural life upon which this journal has dwelt in the increasing importance of a scientific knowledge amongst our farmers. The day when this matter was a debatable one lias long since passed, and at the present time the only contentious point is one regarding degree and methods of instruction. Tn regard to this aspect we are pleased to find approval being expressed by the Inspectors to the Wellington Kducatiun .Hoard concerning the "extended rural course*" adopted by l.evin> High Schools. From the annual report of the Inspectors of schools (a copy of which has been supplied to us by ,Mr John KebItoll. this district's representative on the Hoard) we republish the t'oibiwing inspectorial comine.nl There are .now in the Wellington PMrict nine district high schools, nitli an attendance oi' 3.'3() pupils, and we are gratified to iind that the highly satisfactory results .-b----tai ne.fi at our ow.n examinations have been fully borne out by the rcipolrits ol' the Hfepartnieu't's inspectors, and by the results of the

Civil Service Junior and Matriculation lOxaniinations. Six ol' tlio.se schools namely. Thoriuton, Levin, i'ahiatua, .Ma.sterton, Carterton, and Greytown -ha ve adopted the extended '"Rural Course" suggested by the Kducation Department; the other three continue to follow the ordinary .Aiatriculation a.nd Jnaiiior Civil Service courses. To the former six s|>ecial instructors (agriculture, two; woodwork, two; cookery and ri'oinosfcio economy, twc.) arti practically f?' v ' n K their whole time. Thanks to the Ed'Ucalion Department's liberal treat-

ment, both staffing and equipment, arc such as .should make efficient work on the desired line.s possible. Though the rural course .has been mi o|)jrai.i::n only a year, we do not think it premature to make the fol!".\\V".rj; "•■nggest-ion.s, which would, in our opinion, add still more to its effectiveness :■-- (I) Closer correlation of the piiiiiiuy a.nd secondary work. .MilMi of the more elementary science, drawing, and; haiulwork could be done in St. V. and St. VI., thus giving more time lor the special subjects in science, and thereby adding much to the interest of the pupils in their new work. (2) As the retention of special instructors in such subjects as

physics, botany, chemistry, hygiene, and domestic economy can only be considered as a temporary expedient, the regular staff will be expected in fu- •• ture to do most of tlids part of the work. In the case, however, of woodwork, cookery, land specialised agriculture, the itinerant instructor is still necessary. (3) A closer correlation of the science subjects, in the case of the girls with domestic economy, is desirable, and could bo more effectively done by extending the work of the permar nent staff. (4) In view of the amount of practical work in the course (at least six hours a week) the hours of the secondary pupils might reasonably be extended.

Wo look upon,, this adoption of the. Department's extended rural course in our district high schools as the most important advance made in our educational _ system during the last decade. It has always been; aai anomaly that the Dominion, depending as it does almost entirely on agricultural pursuits, should have provided so little training specially designed to meet the nleods of an agricultural community. We cannot say that tihe couise has met with the approval tliat it has a right to expect in country districts. In more than on© case considerable opposition on the part of the local committees had to be overcome before the course wias adopted. We found, moreover, the oommtom fault of expecting. too much from- the primary

school. It was never, pretended for one moment that this course was going to turn out finished practical farmers. The intention, as expressly stated by the Department, was "to bring about a more intimate relation than, generally speaking, at present obtains between the course of instruction at district high schools and rural pursuits," and if the course accomplishes thus much, then it docs ?U that it can be reasonably expected , to do in our district high schools. Vocational training in agriculture' is the function of the agricultural college or school specially established and equipped for that purpose.