34 LAND REFORM 



all, however, is that issued by the French Minister of 

 Education, which contains "A Scheme for the teach- 

 ing of elementary ideas of Agriculture (a compulsory 

 subject) in rural schools." It is a practical guide to 

 teachers in giving this instruction. It contains essen- 

 tial directions with which the teacher must comply, 

 with such modifications as are required by the circum- 

 stances of the locality. The document is well illus- 

 trated with drawings showing the apparatus, kind of 

 experiments, etc., recommended. Three courses of 

 instruction are set forth : the Elementary Course, 

 for children from seven to nine years of age ; the 

 Middle Course, for children from nine to eleven ; 

 and the Higher Course, for those from eleven to 

 thirteen. 



It is impressed on the teachers that "the aim of 

 elementary instruction in agriculture is to initiate the 

 bulk of our country children into that degree of 

 elementary knowledge which is necessary to enable 

 them to read a modern book on agriculture with 

 profit ... to inspire them with a love of country life 

 so that they may prefer it to that of towns and 

 factories ; and to convince them of the fact that agri- 

 culture, besides being the most independent of all 

 means of livelihood, is also more remunerative than 

 many other occupations, to those who practise it with 

 industry, intelligence and enlightenment."^ 



Many of our County Councils have made admirable 

 arransrements for teachingf the various branches of 

 agriculture. But they labour under great difficulties — 



^ "Enseignenient des Notions Elt^nientaires d'Agriculturc dans les 

 Ecoles Rurales." This scheme should be read by all who are interested 

 in the subject. A full translation is published by the Board of Education 

 in Ireland as an Appendix to the Report (C. 8925- 1898). 



