TEACHING AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 27 November 1914, Page 3

TEACHING AGRICULTURE.

QUESTION OF INSTRUCTORS. DISCUSSION AT EDUCATION BOARD. At a meeting of the Taranakl Education Board on Wednesday considerable time was taken up on the question of agricultural instruction, and the appointment of instructors. The matter was debated at the previous meeting of the Board, and then referred to a sub-com-mittee to report. The committee (Messrs Trimble, Morton and Marfell) reported recommending that an appointment be made of an agricultural and dairying instructor for the primary schools, *s recommended by the inspectors, at a salary of ,£250 per annum and travelling expenses; also a teacher of agriculture for the Technical College at New Plymouth at a salary of £3OO per annum, as recommended by the Director of Technical Education. With reference to the appointment of a travelling instructor they recommended that unless a suitable person could be found to take up the position at a maximum calary of £-250 ■ per annum and travelling expenses, no . appointment be made. : } j

The chairman considered it was very j necessary that children in the country should bo brought up with a proper knewiedge of the way plants should be J grown. It was equally necessary that \ the towspeople should also receive simi- I lar instruction to grow their own vege- j tables. He believed that before many I

I years an additional instruction would l)i> required at Stratford school. The headmaster considered that the services of an agricultural instructor would be required for eight weeks in the year, and it was certain that at the other large schools a great deal of time would be taken up by the teaching of this subject. With regard to teaching agriculture at New Plymouth, the Board would have to try and get that attendee! to. There was at present no ground available for the purpose, but it would have to be provided, and the Director hoped to get it. They must go 041 with the work if a competent instructor could be obtained, and there was no doubt that in time the class would pay fc: itself. With regard to the travelling instructor, he did not anticipate a great deal of good would result from that kind of instruction. The farmers thought they knew more than the instructor. Still, if the dairy companies continued to subsidise the teaching so as to provide the necessary portion of the instructor's salary of ,€2OO a year, he would be glad to see the appointment made as it might stimulate the work on experimental plots. At the same time he considered that this instructioii belonged more to the Agricultural Department than to the Board. At present, what the children were being taught at the schools was horticulture, not agriculture. Digging by the spade gave quite different results from ploughing, and only digging could be taught at the primary schools. There ought, he considered, to be established agricultural high schools specially suited for agricultural workers and possessing the requisite ground for the purpose. Attached to such schools should be a system of scholarships enabling the pupils to go through a course of instruction at what would be small farms. For those who wanted to go further in the work, and take up a more scientific course, there ought to be agricultural I jcolleges. At present there was only one such college, and was unable to accommodate all the students. 'At least two agricultural high schools were required in Taranaki where there was always a large number requiring training. He hoped to see the time when some Minister would provide this urgent want. Mr Marfell, in seconding the adoption of the report, said he did not go as far as the chairman, for he considered the work of giving instruction in agriculture was only just commencing. He urged the Board to adopt the recommendation for the appointment of an instructor at the primary schools, and he considered that it -was also necessary to appoint an instructor at the Technical College, but he did not think that a travelling instructor was altogether worth the expense, though as a matter of fact it cost the Board nothing. Mr Bradbury considered that it was going outside the functions of the Board to instruct farmers in agriculture. Mr Adlam considered that if the farm-

era had only thought out what the instructor (Mr Ellis) had said on agriculture they would certainly find many valuable "suggestions for improvements. What the farmers wanted was to see actual experiments carried out on plots set aside for the purpose. Mr Masters was thoroughly in accord with the appointment of an instructor for the primary schools. Hitherto the matter had only been played with. It was the duty of the Tioard to make instruction to the children its first consideration.' He did not thing there was sufficient work at the Technical College to justify the appointment of an instructor in agriculture at the Col'.pge, and he quoted the experience at Wanganui and Hawera. As to teaching the farmers he was surprised to hear what had been said about the farmers' egotism, as twelve months ago the members of the

Boar";! were enthusiastic over the appointment of a travelling instructor. He contended tliat tlie Board was bouml to keep faith witli tlie dairy companies and allow tlie instruction to go 0 n for tliree years. M to obtaining land for experimental work in connection witli tlie Technical College, he wanted more information. TTe urged that Mr Ellis should lie appointed to the position which the report recommended. He considered that the same instructor could take classes at the Technical College and give instruction to the farmers. Mr Maekay also considered that the. instructor at the College would have ample time to take the farmers' classes. Mr firav (director) said that he wanted agriculture taught at the College from a very different standpoint that was given to the farmers. There would, if the teaching at the College and the farmers were combined, he a feeling on the part of the farmers that they were contributing to the cost of the technical classes. He was confident that the fees paid at the College would cover

the cost of any instruction without any expense to the Board, and he, strongly | urged that separate instructors should he appointed for the College and for the farmers. Mr Maekay considered that by teaching the children of the average farmers the fathers would be reached, and they were more likely to listen to their sons than they were' to take the advice and suggestions of the travelling instructors. Mr Masters considered that the scheme for instructing the farmers had not been given a fair deal yet.

I. Clonsidierabic discussion took place as to what action should be taken over the report, the members of the Board being unanimous over the appointment of an instructor of the primary schools, but there was a difference of opinion over the other recommendations.