ABOLITION OF HISTORY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 103, 1 May 1894, Page 2

ABOLITION OF HISTORY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(To the Editor.) SiR.-Several people who have more zeal SLd knowledge are considerably exercised on account of a resolution passed by the Inspectors of Schools aC the Conierence in Wellington re history. The interpretation of the reeolution is that the I™P?f°™ favour the idea of ceasing to teach »«f?ry. At the Conference a series of resolutions were passed under several headings, sucn as reading, spelling, writing, etc. lbere was no resolutions passed under the nefia ing "History." But under the heading ••General," which contains five «8ol»"on"j two have reference to history, lhe nrst oi these is as follows :— , (c) " That in Standards IV., V. ana VI. the lessons in history shall be designed to give the children some clear knowledge of the formation of the kingdom and of the growth of the empire by colonial settlement; of parliamentary government ;ol the rights and duties oi citizona in relation to each other, and in relation to the btate ; of social and industrial improvements: and, generally, of such simple matters of New Zealand social economy as may be most easily assimilated by young rmnds. id) "Thab the Government be invited io have a text book drawn upin history and social economy for tho use of New Zealand echools, following the linos of tho above resolution, and embracing only such portions of British history as are necessary to explain, or give the history of the matters included.'1 I do noc think it waa ever in the minds of the Inspectors to abolish history as a subject in tho schools, and those who have been pounding away at the idea never took the trouble to inform themselves as to what resolutions were passed ab the Conference.—l am, etc. Gmikso.