RURAL INSTRUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1920, Page 6

RURAL INSTRUCTION.

WORK OP TARANAKI SCHOOLS. EXHIBIT AT WINTER SHOW. «The schools' rural exhibit in connection with the Winter Show at New Plymouth is an interesting one. . The whole exhibit, though perhaps smaller than in previous years, is not lacking in quality. It "is set out to advantage and several features of the work now being undertaken in the schools are represented by entries of specimens of the work which can be classed from good to excellent.

Taking a general survey of the whole exhibit one is struck by the decrease in the number of roots, "etc., exhibited, but at the same time by the corresponding increase in the entries in the naturestudy section, more attention evidently being given to observation of grasses, weedß, and native plants, thisj last being much to the fore in some schools. This change is to be .commended as coming more within -the scope of the child mind and away from the intricate problems connected, say with manurial trials, etc.,'in root and crop raising, so the old idea of agriculture gives place to the newer one of nature-study. Well arranged specimens, mounted in pleasing style, of grasses, weeds, accompanied by drawings in pencil, pen and ink, &nd color show the interest being taken in observations. In the collection of roots and vegetables good exhibits came from Lepperton, Bell Block and Motonui, some fine onions being included for exhibition from the last-named school. Notebooks are a strong class, giving indications of the different aspects of nature-study, dairy work, weather records and seasonal observations. A set of notebooks from Ohangai sho\Vs an interesting course of work running through the school from Standard I to Standard VI, work in drawing and com position being correlated. Two books, being those of pupils'of St. I and 11, 'both Maoris,.deserve special mention in their drawings of and comments on native plants in leaf, flower and fruit representations. Two sets of graphs in the milk and butter-fat records of dairy herds over a number of seasons, must have provided instructive' and interesting work for the pupils concerned. The collection of grasses and weeds from Bell Block and that from Dudley Road should not pass without special mention. Plans of school grounds, though few_ in number, 'showed excellent work especially in .that awarded first prize, though the second prize-taker was very little behind. Pencil and pen and ink 'drawings of weeds by Norfolk Road, and Mata, the latter for exhibition only, showed fine work accompanied by notes. The notes on propagation, lucerne, potato-growing, and pasture plants were undoubtedly | good, but showed the need of a better J arrangement of classes by the authorities in order to avoid competition of high school pupils of perhaps up to four or more years standing with primary pupils. The seed-testing box is always' worthy of mention, attracting as it does notice from patrons of the show, and it should not be forgotten that it represents a feaure being taught in the schools providing means for interesting observations in seed germination and early root formation A special place must be given to the very comprehensive nature chart coming from Matapu school. This chart showed graphs »of soil, temperature, rainfall, drawings, and paipted sketches of seasonal observations, accompanied by concise notes. The whole effect was | at once pleasing, interesting and in- [ gtructive.