AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 15 January 1915, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

ITS IMPORTANCE RECOGNISE!"). APPOINTMENT OF INSTRUCT!IKS. Recognising the groat importance »!' tlie employment of up-to-date methods in farming in a district so essentially dependent on agriculture as is Taranaki, tlie Taranaki Education Board lias determined that tlie country boy, or the lad who intends to follow farming pursuits, shall have equal opportunity of learning tlie technical side of his calling as the town lad has of gaining technical knowledge of the handicraft or profession that he is adopting, and with this end in view has devoted considerable attention to the fostering of the study of agriculture. Though an agricultural instructor, paid, periodic visits to tlie primary school, and classes of instruction! in milk testing, etc., were held at the Technical College for teachers and others it was not until tlie past three or four 1 years that the matter has been determinedly tackled. Mr. A. Gray, on being appointed technical director, gave I the subject considerable thought, and evolved a scheme, which he afterwards brought into operation, whereby with the, help of contributions from the farmers themselves in the shape of grants j from the dairy companies, a permanent' instructor was appointed, whose duties ] were to lecture to farmers and to supervise the. work of agriculture in the primary schools. The fanners responded willingly with contributions, and were greedy for information. After the scheme had been working for a year, it became evident that the work was far too great for one man to undertake; and carry out as it was essential that it should be carried, and tlie Education Board do-1 cided to separate the duties and appoint' two men, one of whom should devote his j whole time to the primary schools by' instructing the children in agriculture and supervising the teachers' classes. The other man was to lecture the far-' mors as arranged with the dairy companies, and also to take charge of the agricultural side of the Technical Collegs, tlie director having prepared a plan which he had had in view for some time, of adding practical and theoretical agriculture to the curriculum of the College, The Board recognised the value of these classes, and thoroughly approved of the proposal, with the result that they called applications for the dual position of fanners' lecturer and Technical College instructor The generosity of Mr Old, in giving the use of eight acres of land in a handy position at 1 Fitzroy close to town, free of rent for [ seven years, enabled the practical side , to lie launched with every prospect of success, which now largely depends on the support given tlie Technical College classes by farmers' sons. So that it behoves farmers to encourage the scheme, i to their utmost.

On Wednesday afternoon the Board dealt with the. applications for the, posi. (ions. (Six applications were received for tile position of instructor of agriculture to primary schools, and to teachers' clas. ses. On the motion of Messrs Masters and Marfell. it was resolved to appoint Mr. J. (1. Kllis', as recommended by the inspectors. During the past year, Mr. Ellis lias hceii holding the dual position of instructor for school classes and lecturer to farmers throughout the Taranaki district, so should he fully cognisant of its requirements. . For the position of agricultural instructor for the Technical College and fanners' lecturer, four applications were received. After some discussion it was resolved to defer th« appointment (ill next meeting, and a committee consisting of the chairman and Mr. Morton was appointed to get further information and report. It is the intention of the committee to invite two of the applicants to visit New Plymouth and meet members of the Board, ar. well as members of dairy factory directorates. The idea of the Board is to get the man most suitable for the position from the point of \ i w of the farmers.