AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 158, 29 July 1909, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION

Mr. \V. A. JMlaulyne, director of technical education under the Taranaki Education Board, in the course of his monthly report upon manual and technical education, said that as the Board was aware, un effort was made at the beginning of last year lo establish at Slratforu a technical day school with a curriculum bearing on up-to-date and .scientific farming, but unfortunately when arrangements had been aliuos'i, completed for carrying un the work ami application had been made lo the Department for recognition of the classes a reply came to hand that the Dep'art--I'ieAt could not sec its way to sanction the establishment of a separate institution, but that ways and means would he considered by which the work might he carried out in conjunction with the present District High School. Although the project was not lost sight of, nothing further could be done at the time. In March last a . circular was received from the Department dealing with suggestions for a course of agricultural instruction in connection with District High Schools. After going carefully into the matter with Mr. Tyrer, a suitavile course of instruction had been drawn up and application made to the Department for its approval. As far as jossiblc, the course mapped out had direct bearing on agricultural pursuits, and 'embraced the following subjects:— English language and Mterature, elementary mathematics, chemist's botany, physical measurements, drawing, bookkeeping, dairy science, agriculture, elementary surveying (boys), dressmaking (girls), farm carpentry (boys), cookery (girls), drill and physical' instruction. It was pointed out that the pupils who followed this course would not be required to take the study of subjects such as Latin, etc. Hut it should not! be altogether lost sight of that should a pupil not desire to follow agricultural pursuits, he might still at the end of his course qualify for a position in the public service, as provision hail been made whereby he would be enabled to present himself for the Civil Service junior examination in ihc subjects studied. It would be evident that'students who had passed in these subjects would be given preference by the' Department when seeking employment in the Agricultural Department of the Government. | The report was received.