MAKING GOOD FARMERS

Shannon News, 2 October 1928, Page 1

MAKING GOOD FARMERS

Obstacles in the Way

BOARDING SCHOOLS ADVOCATED

Obstacles in 'the way of education in New Zealand and suggestions for overcoming theni were dealt with by Mr. It. C. - Olurk, principal of the Wesley Agr.cultural College, Paerato, in the course of an • address under the auspices of the Auckland Educational Society. Mr. A. G-. Luiin presided. After stressing the vital part the products of the land played in the prosperity of the Dominion, Mr. Clark,said all our hope vvusbuilt up on the* question, of the land. Yet it was appalling to. think of the very little that was being done in the schools toward agricultural education. -In secondary schools there was an entire lack of appreciation of the subject. Also, agriculture in the schools was an unpopular subject and was only being plaj r ed with. • Referring to the difficulties "in tk» way,' the speaker said they were probably very largely economic. There were the questions of openings on the.land for boys and the need for a definite land policy. Wages and housing conditions were often not good auxl, generally speaking, no encouragement was given young people to. "make their careers on the land. Many farmers imagined that innate ability, and hard work was all that was required to make, a successful farmer. That attitude was hampering the 'work to_-day. There was also a lack of suit--able instructors, the difficulty being to obtain men who had not only been scientifically trained, btu had also the basis of practical experience. <>Lack of Pioneer Spirit.

Continuing, Mr. Clark said the averago standard of the boy who w r as taking up agricultural training to-day was below that of the boy who was peeking an opening in" city 'professions. He claimed that the result would be thai i.hi'.y would be fleeced by city lawyer* md other men later in life. (Laughter.) lie al:-o critic t sed the examination sy..s tern, stating there was no examination in New Zealand designed waj .« assist -the- future-farmer. Tbi&.incli -ated a lack of interest on the part oi chose who were controlling their agri ■ultural destiny. In addition, .thC-r,e-,wa ; i lack of the pioneer spirit among th boys themselves. They were enthusiast ic for a time, but then their enthusiasm .vaned.

'' I am now going to be constructive' : Air. Clark continued. f'The greatest .vork .teachers in primary school! cai Jo is to inculcate into. ;thcir pupils : .ealisation of N the beauty of the land. En America a large number of agricul iivral clubs have been started in eon icction with primary schools in an at empt to get boys interested in tlu kings of the land, and I understand Jiey arc meeting with great success. 1 gricultural societies were fully aliv. hey could assist in the formation o iitch clubs in New Zealand. It would rcpav them well.'- ..."., Tlie Best Type of School.

The best typo of agricultural school was the boarding school, because it o> rercd better chances for discipline an. dbser observation of the work of th. pupils. These schools v shouM hav .bout 50 pupils and not more than 100. ;n order to give every boy an equal chance of learning something. Whei the Government woke up tliey woul. realise this was the best way to taekl. the problem. ' With regard to a two years' coursi vfor boys who would be returning t their father's farms at the age of 10. Mr. Clark suggested- the curriculun •hould comprise English, book-keeping ■.irith luetic, general science and agricul '■ural chemistry, civics, botany and aui uial husbandry and a general know ie'dge for general usefulness. He be llcvcu an agricultural course should b insod on English. The farmer must b; an intelligent reader —a person who could occasionally rise above his cow. and pigs. Agricultural education coul■; lie assisted by short courses designs: for those already working on fanmwho could not afford the time to spend all their days at an agricultural school "This society should realise .the value of agricultural education and in lluence the education authorities to do something," he added. "It will not be money wasted. I am not in sympathy with those whose cry is for more farm's. What we want is better farms. What we want to aim at is not a large number of farms, with farmers just earning a living. We want to sec.the .farmers getting the best out of their farms." ' , *