THE RURAL COURSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10281, 8 July 1911, Page 4

THE RURAL COURSE.

I An extract from the "Petone Chronr I icle," published in the Age on Monj day last, mad© it appear that Mi- W. j H. Jackson, Headmaster of the Masterton District High School, had expressed himself to a Petoine resident as opposed, in certain respects, to the rural course of education. Mr 1 Jackson, has shown us the letter he wrote upon the subject, and this, for from supporting the interpretation placed upon it, demonstrates that he has expressed himself favourable to the rural course. Mr Jackson and his staff are naturally annoyed that the achievements at the Masterton School in connection with the rural course should have beeni represented In an erroneous light. As a matter of fact, the course in question, while it occupies a prominent place in. the school ouripculum, does not- consist entirely of agricultural instruction. It embraces English, geography, woodwork and various other subjects. ' Since the course has been adopted, | excellent work lias been, don© by the permanent staff, in co-operation, with tlie agricultural instructor (Mr Davies), and to assert that the zmral course consist® of the "growing of cabbages and potatoes" and the "playing at farming," is to talk ab- ■ solute nonsense. Mr Jackson has I furnished us with information' which j warrants us in saying that the at- , tempts made to prejudice the adopI tion of the rural course at Petone by depreciating the good work done at Masterton are . quite unwarranted. We are exceedingly sorry that the -Petone paper should have given publicity to statements which, do not Represent the position in what we .consider a proper light, and we regret that the re-publication, of these statements in this paper should have occasioned annoyance to Mr Jackson and his staff. The work done at the, Masterton School has been of such a uniform excellent character that no adverse criticism can be justified, let alone sustained.