EDUCATION REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 117, 17 May 1920, Page 4

EDUCATION REFORM.

The important proposals outlined by the Minister of Education before the Education Conference in Wellington last week will not be so clear to tho average person as to those acquainted with tho working of the education system and with the trend of advanced educational thought abroad. Details of the scheme are lacking, but from what was said at the conference, and -what has been proposed and is being carried out at Home, we may offer some explanation of the proposals. Mr. Parr proposed " the termination of the primary school course at approximately the age of 12 years and the preparation of pupils for admission to secondary schools at the ape of about 12 years." The present legal leaving age is 14. provided that a pupil does not pass the sixth standard before then. It might seem that Mr. Parr proposes to reduce the primary school age by two years, and there may be protests against this on the ground that it. pushes children into advanced work at too early an age. But this is not quite what is proposed. The idea is to have an intermediate course between the primary and secondary courses. There are to lie central schools at which fifth and sixth standard children will be concentrated, and at ■which the curriculum may be a little more, specialised than it is at present in these rtandards. Children may either go to secondary schools direct from the. primary schools, or, so we take it, from the central school- , . The advantage of the central schools will be that the best pupils from the primary schools will be concentratr.-i in

communities of their own, v. here they will be grader) in classes according to their ability. It is one of the weaknesses of the present system that the exceptional <x>y or girl in a class is kept back by the average or dull pupil, whereas in one of the new schools he or she will be given a better chance to get on. It may .be objected that this will cost more money at a time when ii is difficult or impossible to get money for Mich urgent wants as buildings. Tne cost, however, may not lie so great as Js feared. Advantage could be taken of the present need for much more accommodation in the centres to start the central school system,. Instead of adding to, say. a c!o?.oti schools, one or two central schools could be built. The new buildings would relieve the pressure, and the old buildings would continue to b.; used for the primary system. In many country piaces it will be impossible to establish central schools, and there the intermediate stage will be obtained by adding standards to the primary schools.

In proposing to re-divide the education system, Mr, Parr is following the best opinion in Rritain. This opinion liolds Hint Hiildrcii should begin secondary school work earlier than had heen the practice. The National Association of Head Teacher*. England, stated in its programme of reform published in I!>17 that the ino.-t suitable age for the transference of children from tlvprimary to the secondary school is about eleven or twelve years, and Mr. Fisher, Minister of Education, who is doing: more for educational reform than any of his predecessors, believes in central schools, and considers that " a knowledge of the three 'RV is satisfactorily rooted and established by th<year." Schemes of education such .is Mr. Parr propoees are being prepared in ninny parts of Knpland. with the approval o"f the Education Office. In the London County area for example, the most promising pupils in the elementary schools begin their secondary, commercial, or industrial training at not later than 12 years, and are given the choice of going to central or secondary schools. The success of Mr. Parr's scheme will largely depend upon its details. If it is to succeed theremust mc neither over-forcing of the young, or over-apecialisation at too early an age. The supreme importance of cultural education must always be kept in'view; a. child does not go to school to learn to become n bootmaker, a plumber, a lawyer, or a business man, but to be educated in the widest possible sense of the term. Our purpose now- id to point out that although the proposals, may have to be criticised in detail. Hie Minister is moving along t.lio lines of the best opinion in the Old Country, where there have been profound stirrings in the education world in the last few years. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. P. Hally) hail to preside this morning at a dispute filed by the Hotel Employees' I'nion (private hole! section I. The assessors for the employers were Messrs. A. A. Brown. K. Murrane and Miss C. A. Olecson, and for the union Messrs. A. Jackson. P. C. Ansetl and Miss X, Ferguson. Agreements were arrived at in respect to the minor clauses in dispute, but wages, hours nnd holidays are to he further considered l>v the Council before the next sitting of the Arbitration Court, in Auckland, when it is expected a full settlement will be arrived at. To-morrow ■the electrical workers' dispute cornea before the Council. At a meoting of the Mt. Albert School Committee on Thursday last, a resolution was passed drawing the attention of the Minister of Education and also the Board of Education to the unaniraoue resolution passed at the -householders' meeting asking that all school books he supplied free of cost. Another resolution was also passed asking tlio Board of Education, in view of the overcrowding of the Mt. Albert School, what progress was being made with I he pro- ! posed new school in Tvowhai Street. Xho I committee intends waiting upon the Minister at its liret opportunity to urge upon him the great need for these things, and other important matters in connection with the school. The committee also pafi-ed a resolution protecting against the action of the Health Department in allowing children t« congregate at picture theatres while the schools were eomr/nlsorily closed ow'ng to the outbreak of influenza. At the Onehunga Police Court, before Mr. J. Shaldriek, .T.P., two youths named Harold Xiven and Richard Fletchers were charged with the thefi of ten cases of benzine, valued at £15, the property of Mr. T. J. Wathew. They were remanded until next .Monday, bail being refused. Many interesting incidents take place in a court of law, but it is seldom that a defendant refuses to accept bail because he has a personal feeling against the person who offers to go surety for him. Such a case, however, happened recently at the Magistrate's Court, Wellington.

A prosperous and well-to-do resident in one of the subimbs, -who was shifting to a new house last week, was seen to be carrying a ■well-burnished gum-spear to his new home. He wa6 "barracked" a good deal 'by one of liis friends whom he met. and asked if he had come down to that at last? "Let mc tell you the history of that spear," he said, ''and then jjou will understand why I keep it. When I came to New Zealand in 189U the maritime strike was on and tilings were very bad i* this country. I could not get work, and soon had 1 o sell a quantity of my personal belongings to pay for my board. At length 1 was advised to go gum-digging, and for six months T went away up to the northern gumfiolds. Tt was there 1 made the first money that I earned in New Zealand. The little pile 1 made up North provpcl to be the forerunner of my present prosperous career, and 1 would not part with my old gum spear for any money, for it was a (rood friend to mc in mv hour of need." Then lie added, as a parting shot: "Many a man in the North has got his lirst start in life on the guinfields after lie had failed at many other things, but few are so candid as 1 am to confers it, not so much in recent years as in the days of Ion;; ago.' .

A proposal to borrow about £ 10,<X)O for the provision of a moderulv-equipped fire station anil of Die latest fire alarm system throughout the borough, is to be ■placed before the Dovonport ratepayers at an early date. In announcing I lie proposal at the Devotiport Kire Brigade's annual smoke concert on Saturday night, I ho Meyor (Mr. 11. S. \V. King I stated that the plans for tlio new station had been prepared Home veurs ago, but the -building proposal 'had b«n shelve*! on account of tin , wnr. It was now hope,l th-ai the would hark up the Council in an elVort to have I the fire prevention and savin" work put on Uic host possible basis. Th.- idea was to instal the duplex system of alarms, which had recently been so successfully demonstrated at the Auckland fire station. Thn presentation of prizes to the pup.ls of Cheltenham College, postponed from December last owing t 0 the, mumps epidemic then prevailing, took place on Friday evening in the presence of a Urge feathering- of parents and friends. The Mayor of Devonport, Mr. 11. S. W. King, presented the pri7.es -rained in school work, while Mrs. Kin™ presented the prizes gained in sports. Mr. King complimented -Mrs. Dean and the staff upon the discipline and tone of the school, and the pupils upon their behaviour, not only at school, hut when away from it. A short entertainment was jiven by the pupils. ■•Shipping and C<irn m crce of Australia" lias a paragraph re for ring to the fact [that for the first lime regular lines of Italian steamers are trading with the Commonwealth. The bulk of the trade with Italy was formerly carried by the N'orddeutseher Lloyd line, which "j s o f course now out of the running. The entry •f the i.lovd Triestino and Lloyd Saband'o into Australian trade is therefore welcome. The Royal Belgian Lloyd is also catering for Australian trade. Tincompany took up the position that it would not. enter the trade with Australia while the Commonwealth's overseas shipping were still being used carrvinI troops. ' c : A dish that has r.een served flirou™*tmt the 'vorld for 40 year B must be good. I'hie is f.he unique record of St. George Camp Pie. This tasty, ippetising mci. nieal is delicious; it should be eervad »'ith parsley like canned sheep tongue. Can be. prepared in a trice—always inviting and nutritious. Try a tin for tea. Sold by all erocers.—(Ad.) When infectious germs arc floating about in the air, special care should be taken to protect the throat by using Shariand's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour). Sold everywhere. •_'/.—(Ad.) The clergy of all denominations favour the "Colden Kule" Soap, "(iolden Rule" School Kulcns. and " Thinkers'" School Exercise Books. —(Ad.)

Ladies should protect themselves against influenza infection by putting about ten drops of Xazol on a handkerchief and placing inside a blouse on the che.st. Use Na/.0l freely in this way— It does not injure the most delicate fabric—(Ad.) Our new method or extraction of teeth is absolutely painless. We guarantee this, and maij no charge shculd pain bo felt.—Bnllin and Ruesell, Dental Specialists, Syinonds Street.— (Ad.) Create an atmosphere of Xazol about you. so that you constantly inhale it. About ten drops on the cheet of pyjama jacket at night, or on I ho singlet in the morning: protect* you against infectious germs.— (Ad.) Protect your mouth and throat from the disease germs which nro very prevalent in the air just now, by using Sharland's Kirmulin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour). Sold everywhere. 2/.—(Ad.) Sprinkling about ten drop? of Xazol on the chest of the pyjama jacket at night, or on the singlet in the morning, is a good way to get trie benefit of Xazol inhalation—just try it.-(Ad.) Sharland's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour) destroy infectious germs which lodge in the throat and mouth. Sold every where. 2/.—(Ad.) It is butter to use Xazol too freely than too carefully for inhalation. Its •■(Tec) is more pronounced and reduces the danger of infection from influenza germs.—(Ad) To protect the Throat from the influence of obnoxious germs—it is wise to use Sharland's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour). Sold everywhere. 2/.—(Ad.) Sharland's Formalin Throat Tablets (mint or cinnamon flavour) arc recommended in cases of sore, throat and for month disinfection. Sold everywhere. 2/.—(Ad. Don't hesitate to use Xnzol very freely, especially by constant inhalation. It protects the mouth, nose, and throat afrninnt infectious influenza foi-ms.-lAd.) The best floor and lino, polish is the "Keep Smiling" brand. Price- S.I large tin.—Smeeton's. Ltd. — (Ad.) A few shillings spent in the free* use of Xazol to protect the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and throat neainst influenza infection is better than hours of suffering.— (Ad.)