LAND LORE AT KING’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 542, 20 December 1928, Page 12

LAND LORE AT KING’S

TEACHING AGRICULTURE HEADMASTER'S REPORT King’s College is How cetenne for those boy* who intend to go on the land, according to the annuel report of the headmaster. Cano. H. K. Archdall. j Along with a full general courw, ; these boys are now allowed to studagriculture in place of Latin. It was not thought either necessary or desirable tor young boys to lear practical farming at school, f or » t either tired them of the dull round c* work or set up in their minds an pectation of finding a complete ml. chanical equipment in actual farm Hf which did not always obtain. Rathe was it considered best to give boys general scientific background to thei future life. The college agriculture course sought to give a balanced knowledge of soils, manures, crops, weed*, animal husbandry and tree plantin As a result it would be possible I boys to take intelligent advantagafter matriculation of the short provided by such agricultural instit . tions as Massey College. There werat least ten acres at the college on j which to develop this side of then I work.

Canon Archdall stated that th„ chief developments of the curriculon during the year were the establishingof a form IV. modern with the idea < giving attention and teaching to boy. preparing for commercial life, and ti formation of a modern side to the sixr form. It was hoped as a result of th. that more parents would send bo.< back for at least a year of post-matr - culation work, even although they di i not intend to take up a university . r professional course.

The question of examinations versus the accrediting system was dealt wiiii by the headmaster. He was of the opinion that the way out of the difficulty' was not by the easy method or accrediting nor by abolishing examina - tions, but by improving them. Th» suggestion was put forward that th present system of examinations in NYZealand could be improved in certain directions.