procekdings of section k. 683 



The Existing Scheme of Agricultural Education in 

 Australia. 



As at present constituted, the scheme of agricultural education 

 in the States of the Commonwealth is divided into the following 

 branches : — 



(a) The Primary and Agricultural High Schools. 

 (6) The Agricultural Colleges. 



(c) The Universities. 



(d) Itinerant lecturers and publications of the Department 



of Agriculture. 



(e) Experimental Stations. 



These may be linked up in such a way as to form the backbone 

 or foundation of a complete scheme that is necessary to go hand 

 in hand with a successful policy of immigration. 



G. The Functions of the Primary School. 



In this scheme the primary school could do good work, not in 

 turning out scientists and trained farmers, but in giving the rising 

 generation a bent towards rural life. 



In former days the education of the child was uninspiring. 

 The education gained by their own curiosity in observing the 

 flowers, insects, and bird life alone gave soul to their work. 



By introducing kindergarten and nature study into its schools 

 the Education Department laid the most important foundation of 

 true education. The observation powers of the children have been 

 allowed to develop and the charm of naturalness has not been 

 stunted. Both qualities are associated with success in the business 

 of life. 



Though the environal conditions under which a child lives are 

 the primary influences in the development of its character, still the 

 school gives the opportunity of developing the natural good quali- 

 ties over baser influences. 



The education of the eye, ear, and hand is an immense advance 

 on the old methods of teaching, and to no class will its influence be 

 more directly beneficial than to the future tillers of the soil. The 

 training of the eye, I believe, obtains in all rural schools of Vic- 

 toria. A youth who, by a few strokes of the jiencil can makft 

 a sketch of any object is more likely to have 4, practical and accu- 

 rate conception of things than a youth who cannot. 



The education of the ear from a technical stand-point should 

 be correlated with that of the eye, and is valuable, especially in 

 veterinary practice, and in work among machinery. 



