288 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE, ETC. 
(d) Giving practical advice and assistance generally to the pupils out of school 
and to adult members of the community in all matters pertaining to 
local rural problems, including the organising of agricultural clubs, school 
and community social functions, sports, etc. 
There are also three specialists in science and agriculture who have no district super- 
vision but who spend all their time in their respective High Schools. These men are 
employed by the School Boards with the approval of the Educational Department, 
which makes a special grant yearly towards the defraying of local expenses incidental 
to the agricultural course, such as apparatus and supplies, labour, etc., such grant 
not to exceed $3,000.00. In such cases one-third of the special instructor’s salary 
ismet by the Department. In the case of the seven District Supervisors of Agricultural 
Instruction, who are appointed by the Department of Education, the School Board 
in each case contribute 50 per cent. of salary and also make a grant of $300.00 a year 
towards regular travelling expenses, as each District Supervisor uses a motor-car in 
connection with his district itinerary. A like sum is contributed by the Department 
towards transportation. 
‘Special summer courses of instruction for teachers are held for five weeks during 
each summer vacation. Courses in almost all school subjects are offered, including 
elementary agriculture, which in this Province has had the name of rural science. Two 
such agricultural courses entitle a teacher to a special diploma in that subject. 
‘Since the organisation of the work in 1914, the Department of Education has 
received substantial financial assistance from the Dominion Government in conducting 
its agricultural education programme, under what was known as the Agricultural 
Instruction Act. Approximately $20,000.00 per year for several years past has 
been received for that purpose. The Director of Elementary Agricultural Education 
has also had the general supervision of school-grounds improvement and beautification, 
an undertaking which has been attended with considerable success. Every year sees 
new schools included under the scheme and the results so far have amply justified 
the expenditures made. In co-operation with this movement for the improvement of 
school grounds, the Provincial Government maintains a fine nursery connected with 
the large Government farm in Coquitlam and the adjoining Mental Hospital at 
Essondale. ’ 
Maryn Purpose AND OBJECTIVE. 
‘ Boys taking the High School course in agriculture are not regarded as prospec- 
tive farmers, and no special effort is made to induce them to go into farming as their 
life-work. The study of agriculture as conducted in our High Schools is regarded as a 
valuable and almost essential part of a good liberal education. Its interests are 
healthful and its influences positive and beneficial. It calls out personal initiative 
and helps to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. It gives new interest and new 
meaning to other science studies by affording innumerable examples of science applied. 
It affords one of the best avenues through which to approach the great biological secrets 
and mysteries of plant and animal propagation and the laws of heredity. It develops 
certain skills incidental to scientific experimentation and to approved practices in 
farming and gardening. 
“Tn all these aspects it is essentially and primarily educational and suitable alike 
to girls and boys, regardless of the particular vocation which each may ultimately 
choose. On the other hand it may be of great value in setting up new standards 
and new conceptions of the true nature and meaning of agriculture in the minds of 
these young people, as a result of which they may be drawn to choose farming as an 
occupation. 
“When such an educational and scientific basis has been laid for the farmer of 
the future the quality of our rural citizenship will advance, and not till then.’ 
3.—ABSTRACT FROM A Report or DrREcTOR OF ScHooL AGRICULTURE FOR 
SASKATCHEWAN. 
Introductory. 
“The field of activity known as Agricultural Education may be roughly divided 
into two sections or divisions, the chief emphasis in the one being placed on subject- 
matter or content, in the other on educational values. The former is frequently 
designated Education in Agriculture and includes all forms of vocational training 
in Agriculture whether conducted in High Schools or College or through Extension 
courses. The other, which is quite properly called Education through Agriculture, 
