TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 July 1921, Page 7

TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE.

SHOULD IT BE COJIPULSORYI At the conference of the Taranaki (School Committees’ Association on Thursday, the question of agricultural education formed the subject of considerable discussion. The matter arose as the outcome of a remit from the Pembroke Road committee: “That in order to prepare the children of this Dominion for an agricultural career, it is of greater importance that agriculture be made a compulsory subject of primary education, and that every boy or girl who sits for proficiency or compulsory examinations should be required to qualify to the extent of 60 per cent, for the former and 40 per cent, for the latter in agriculture.” In moving the remit, Mrs. Cuthbert stated that land was the basis of the Dominion’s prosperity, and they could not instil it too strongly into the minds of the children that land must be kept in a high state of fertility. She stated that she knew of land in the district .that had been allowd to go back to such an extent that it was now only producing as much off ten acres as it was producing off an acre thirty years ago. <• Mr. Sole, in seconding, pointed out that Taranaki was already doing good work in teaching agriculture, as out of 169 schools in the Dominion, 153 in Taranaki were taking agriculture. In this Taranaki took the lead over the whole Dominion. He also touched on what was being done in the matter of agricultural dubs, and suggested that Dr. Cockayne aaooid be asked to give addresses on agricultural subjects in various centres, as these would prove wry valuable. He pointed out that in one distriex the output of cheese had dropped 1000 crates, and thia was very aericus. It was the duty of ail to do tbar inmost io make the land produce as »& as possible, a»d they could not do better than Uach children the basis, of agri'Euliace. Mr Mastexc considered that the end ataoi at would he defeated if an endeavor were mads t® make it isaadatory ikrovghoai the Domixion, and he sz»g- ££. amending it to izudude farming jfc. Cuthbert agreed. A speaker objected on the gronnds that it would be impassibile ta obtain qualified teachers. Another apaakar considered agriculture should bs an optional subject with Mr. Hueber mewed as an amerdmrat that the words after educaiMa be Struck out. The amendment was lost Mt. lu. Bacon moved as an amendment that prr F K desiring to follow an agrinnataral career be granted a pasa to travel by train or ’bus to the nearest imre for the purpose of obtaining a first-hand kr.wsriedge of agricidtme from qarnEferd teacbere. • Tins was seconded by Mt. Mandi, and after some discussion "carried. bet on a amendment it was resolved that the whole question of asncadtural education be referred to die mrwtire io banter with the Education Board.