TO THE BEST USE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 119, 20 May 1912, Page 8

TO THE BEST USE

— » SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. Some interesting remarks were mad* by the Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) io the deputation representing the Educational Institute, which waited upon him on Saturday. The immense extension of' free' secondary education in New Zealand, he- said, had come about so rapidly .that there had hardly been time to make all those necessary adaptations to secure that the large expenditure was being put to the best use. The Education Department took in hand all the conditions under which primary schools do their work : it' had not yet done ao in the case of secondary schools. The Department provided for the continuous trivinhig of primary teachers, first as probationers or pupil teachers, then a& students of training col-< leges, afterwards being under the guidance and supervision of inspectors. Again, the Department defined and directed the work of primary schools by means of a syllabua. Lastly, primary schools were under the expert supervision of inspectors who tested the efficiency of the Work done and enabled j the boards to judge whether the work of each school was being done faithfully and efficiently. By all these means the Department had taken car© that the work of the primary schools should be thorough. By some corresponding means the work of the secondary schools should be brought into line; it should be seen to thai their course of study an to its subject matter was in accord with requirements, and that the method was in accord with the beet models of the teacher's craft. Two points would illustrate the need of overha-uling the secondary system. First, there was no adequate provision for training in practical teaching those student* and graduates who become junior assistants in Boys' and Girls' High Schools. The task given to these 'juniors, involving the control and discipline as well as the efficient instruction of children at an age when their effective management was the most difficult of all, was one demanding experienced skill and strength of personality. Surely if a long course of training were demanded for " , primary school work, ah equally thorough preparation for their arduous duties should be given to our future secondary teachers in justice to themselves and' to their pupils. How to secure the adequate training of all who obtain places* on the staffs of High, or Technical Schools was a question calling for consideration. Secondly, there was too violent a departure in the matter of instruction and in its methods confronting the pupil who passed from the primary to the secondary school. This had often been , pointed rtut, but the curious assumption was mA<lo that all the adaptation chould be made by altering the primary course. To say the least, it was a. g-erious violation of teaching maxims when new instruction was not built upon what had been already acquired, and if the primary course were in itself agood one, the logical tiling wa« to establish the desired continuity by adapting the beginning of the secondary courae- to the closing part of the primary cgurat.

LATE SHIPPING. DEPARTURES. May 20 — l'oteena, b.s. (1 p.m.), 1212 totMi, Watson, for Picton and Nelson. Passengers— Saloon : For Pictonr— Miss .McLaren-, Mrs lieiinett, Messrs Mather, Noble, GtUbraith, Fuller, Rogers, Prior, Spencor, MeKoy, Bain, McGill, Bonnet*. For Nelaon— Miesos Nightingale and Seoly, Mesdamce Scott, Bonniugton, Murray, Paul, Young, Mes re. Glen, Napier, Mackny, Wilkin, Waterlioube, Bonnfngton, Murray, MANUKA, FROM SAN FRANCISCO. On Saturday the R.M.3. Manuka, bound from San Francfcco to 'Wellington, sent a wireless communication to Suva, from which place it was fonruided to Wellington by cable, stating that she would arrive here on Ihurtday next, ncr due dale. On the following day the vessel leaves for Sydney direct. TAINUI r,KFT CAPE. Cabled advice received by tho local agents of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company states that the R.M.B. Tainut, en route from London to Wellington, left Capetown oa Fridiiy afternoon in. continuation of her voyage. The vessel, which left London on the 25th April, is due lieie on 11th June. THE BUAHINL 1 DELAYED. After being held up at Lyttchou for or four days owing to the shortage of trucks, the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Runhine is meeting with further delays at Timaru. She was delayed by fog on. Wednesday, and t the waterside workers refused to handle meat that night. Ab elie has btill to call at Bluff, it will be well on toward* the middle of the week before febe acts back to Lyttelton. KCST AT AUCKLAND. Tho F.H.S. steamer Kent, bound from Liverpool to Wellington, via Sydney and Auckland, arrived at the northern port at 7.30 o'clock on Saturday evening. It is expected that she will reach Wellington in about 1 a week's time. TOMOANA AT "MELBOURNE. The Tyser liner Tomoana, which left New York on the 24th March for Wettington, via Australian ports and Auckland, arrived at Melbourne on Friday last. She is due' to arrive at Wellington about the 10th of n-ext month. NEXT STEAMER FROM LIVERPOOL.' The Drayton Grange, under the auspices of the F.H.S. Line, will be the next steamer to leave Liverpool for New Zealand ports. The vesbel ie expected to leave the Home port on Saturday next, 25th May, and should, therefore, reach Wellington about the end of July. The Kint is to leave Weetport this afternoon i'or Wellington. Owing to a shortage of 'coal the tramp steamer Fallf> of Mouebs, bound from Valparaiso lo Newcastle, put into Auckland last evening for a 'further supply. The New Zealand Shipping Company's > 6-e. Paparoa, bound from London to New Zealand ports, via Brit-bane, is expected to reach Wellington oir Thursday, 30th May. On Saturda> the Union Company's steamer Kurow arrived at Gi&borrie with a load of coal from Newcastle, The Corinna leaves Punedin today for Oamaru, Timaru, and Wellington. From here she goes to Nelson and New Plymouth, omitting her usual .subsequent call at Onehunga. At 3 o'clock s tills afternoon tlie Mottowai leaves Napier for Wellington, in continuation of her voyage from Auckland and Gisborne. Dr. Mawson's relief ship sailed from Sydney on Saturday. The vefesel goes to the Auckland lelanti* and King Edward Land, -where the expedition's base Is. The Union Steam Ship Company's coastal steamer Flora left Dunedin at i p.m. on Saturday for Wellington via Oamaru and Timaru Omitting Lyttelton the vessel is due liere on Wednesday, and, provided she arrives In the forenoon, js timed 'to 6ail the same day for New Plymouth, Westport, and Greymoutn. BY TELEGRAPH. KAIPARA, 2Qth May. Sailed— Loutea Craig, barque (noon), for Adelaide, i • KAIKOURA, 20th May. Arrived—Wakatu noon), from Wellington.