59 



greatly increasing the number in our agricultural college, but would 

 result in interesting many who go direct to the farms in tin- practical 

 work of the experiment stations." — Queensland Agricultural Journal, 

 January. 1904. 



609. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS- 



A\ appendix to the report of the Superintendent of the Botanic 

 Station. British Honduras, gives the substance of a lecture on the 

 above subject, given by the Superintendent (Mr. E. J F.Campbell) 

 on the above subject. From it we take the following extracts : — 



" Physical and mental health should be the supreme aim of the 

 elementary teacher. 



*• It is of great importance that the use and exercise of body and 

 mind in the elementary stages of children should be pleasurable and 

 joy-giving ; half an hour a day may be spent in the school garden 

 among some sort of plants and flowers ; the handling of gardening 

 tools. &c, would even be of considerable benefit. The power of joy 

 has then an expanding and inspiring influence — in fact, it is absolutely 

 essential to the wellbeing ot all children. 



•" The child is much influenced at this period by its emotions and 

 feelings. 



•' Teachers should realize that it is only by experience through 

 the various senses that the sensory areas of the brain can be modified. 

 A child's energy and force depends upon the character of the brain — 

 the supreme centre. Nature study is the only brain builder. 



'' It is not intended here to outline any particular course, but 

 what is meant is just to open the minds to the requirements of agri- 

 culture and agricultural training, to give some idea of this wonderful 

 science. 



" The system now of teaching and the curriculum now laid down 

 by the education authorities is undoubtedly good, but so far as agri- 

 cultural education is concerned, there is room for much improvement. 

 What is desired is an education in our schools by which the child: 

 may be instructed in those matters which will be ot particular service 

 to them as farmers : and I am sure the introduction of Agricultural 

 School Readers, giving the principles of agriculture and forming a 

 continuous upward course of information, would be of great value, 

 attraction and interest. Object lessons — school gardens attached to 

 the school grounds, where the rudiments and elementary science of 

 agriculture could be demonstrated and practically illustrated also — - 

 prove of the greatest value in the education of the rising and future 

 generation. Then let us, one and all, endeavour to make an effort in 

 providing a progressive initiation in introducing agricultural educa- 

 tion, and let the first principles of agriculture be one of the features 

 in our schools. 



"" It must be borne in mind that what is aimed at is the educating 

 in the science and practice of agriculture, and the training of the 

 young mind to the study of Nature, so that the natural surroundings 

 of our young may present new beauties and fresh interests and possi- 

 bilities to them, and reconcile them to the so-called monotony of a 

 country life. 



