THE STRATFORD SCHOOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 16 November 1915, Page 7

THE STRATFORD SCHOOL.

AGRICULTURAL WORK. Mr J. G. Ellis, Schools' instructor, reported as follows to tire Education Board on 27th October on the work done on the experimental area of two acres ill Broadway South in connection with tlic Stratford School:— I have to report that the work is being carried out thereou under my own .supervision on three days per week, pupils of the Stratford School doing the work on two of these days. It was my intention originally to have only one acre broken up and planted, and to conduct some pasture renewal experiments on the part remaining in grass, but upon examination it was found that the pasture consisted of inferior grasses only, and was badly infested with weeds (1 was informed that it had never been sown down), and any attempt at renovation would not be satisfactory, and as the man who was entrusted with the ploughing was doing excellent work, -Mr Tyrer and 1 decided that he should plough the whole area. This has, of course, practically doubled the work of planting, but whilst it is more than I proposed to do this year, I am persuaded that the advantages will more than compensate for the additional work involved. In future years there will always be some portions of it in partially permanent crop, and consequently the work will not be so heavy. Approximately half the work of planting is done. Substantial and artistic gates have been made and erected by the pupils of the School under the able supervision of Mr F. W. Sandford, the woodwork instructor, and from the same source we have two wheelbarrows, and the work put into these reflect great credit upon pupils and instructor alike. 1 also notice that water has been laid on, and a stand pipe and tap erected. I presume that this has boon done under directions from Mr Tyrer; the pupils have foiyul it a great convenience. In conjunction with the secretary to the Board, and the rector of the School, I circularised the teachers of the schools of the Whangamomona line, re the establishment of Saturday classes at Stratford (after discovering that the Department would sanction such classes), and issue free tickets to the pupils attending. 1 am pleased to report that the response was most encouraging, and classes were formed on the 9th inst. Pupils attend from Whangamomona, Pohokura, Huiroa, Douglas, Toko and also from York Road. The total number of children on the roll of the class for agriculture, the largest, including all the children who attend, being 37. The classes arranged are dairy science 36, agriculture 37, woodwork (boys) 21, plain cookery (girls) 16. The teachers are very interested in the movement, and some of them attend the classes. The pupils are keen, and I think are very pleased to have tho opportunity of spending their Saturdays in this manner. For tho class in dairy science, which I conduct from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Mr Tyrer has placed the science room and the apparatus at my command, and I find this very convenient, and wish to express my appreciation. The success which has attended the inauguration of these classes leads me to think that it would be good policy on the part of the Board to have similar grouped classes for short sessions in

certain centres where similar conveniences and apparatus are available. It should not be difficult to arrange such classes where children already meet for instruction in cookery and woodwork, and such a movement would, 1 'think, tend to popularise the teaching of such important subjects as agriculture aud dairy science, I