37 



committee believe that the establishment of secondary schools, 

 essentially industrial in their character, to be an absolute 

 necessity for the proper development of the rural school system. 



(5) That while much has already been done by the agri- 

 cultural colleges and experiment stations, they could yet do 

 much more in assisting elementary or secondary schools as 

 regards industrial education, and that this should be made a 

 prominent feature of their work. 



(6) That the mastery of such industrial education as is 

 within the capacity of elementary and secondary school pupils 

 is of greater utility and value than any other form of know- 

 ledge at present acquired with the same expenditure of time 

 and effort. 



(7) That to popularise this side of education it is necessary 

 to show immediate practical results, so that it may win the 

 support of the rural population who maintain the schools. 



(8) That the courses of study in rural schools should be 

 framed to meet the needs of the children attending them and 

 not with a view to preparing a small percentage for entering 

 some higher school. 



(9) That it is possible so to organise the rural school system 

 as to present a regular series of schools from the primary to 

 the agricultural college, while arranging the work for the 

 immediate needs of pupils at each stage, and without abridging 

 opportunities for ultimate advancement to higher grade. 



(10) That, owing to the comparatively recent interest taken 

 in this subject, teachers in elementary and secondar}/ schools 

 are not yet properly prepared for it, and therefore special > 

 opportunities and inducements should be offered to them, 

 with this object. 



(11) That boys' and girls' clubs for industrial work outside 

 the school, clubs of farmers and farmers' wives for agricultural 

 courses, &c, should be organised with the help of County and 

 State Superintendents, and agricultural high schools and 

 colleges, so as to arouse interest in the subject. 



(12) In view of the unpreparedness of most school teachers 

 at present to give instruction in agricultural subjects, and the 

 fact that if they were generally ordered to do so now the result 

 would be probably failure and reaction, the committee are of 

 opinion that it would be unwise that any State should pass laws 



