EDUCATION REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1922, Page 2

EDUCATION REFORM.

DECISIONS OF CONFERENCE. | i SOME LOCAL OPINION'S. The decisions of the conference on . Education, reported on page 7. were j brought under the notice of Mr. -7. W. Tibb" Principal of the Auckland Grammar School, and Mr. T. U. Wells, headmaster of the Richmond Road school, who attended the conference, by a "Star' reporter this morning, and they were a3ked for an expression of opinion concerning the proposed curtailment of the primary school course and other matters mentioned by the Minister. Mr. Tibbs said there was no doubt that a great many boys and girls had gone into secondary schools under the present tree place system who would j have been far better at technical schools j or at work. The original scheme for free ] places limited the age to 14 years, and subsequently it was raised to "I j think this "was a great mistake,' , lie added. It was now propoeed to, remedy this by making all pupils from the primary schools pass through a junior high "school for three yeara. This plan had been instituted in pertain parts of America, but was viewed with disfavour in the Eastern States of America, where they clung to the English model of introducing boys and girls into high. «c-hool at a much earlier age. There wae a stronc divergency of opinion on the point. It was argued that it would be better for us to follow the English plan rather than introduce the American system. In the English system of higher education boys and girls passed to the Grammar school and county schools direct from ihe primary schools in their twelfth rear, so they could, if they co ' desired, follow a of general culture preparatory to taking up a profeej sion. Tlii* eystem enabled boys and girls to have a continuous course of six years at one school before proceeding to the university, and the result was that secondary education in England was on a much higher level than in the United States. Mr. F. Milner, principal of the Waitaki High School, who was at the conference, admitted that the standard j of secondary education in America was I far behind what it ought to be. "In my opinion/ said Mr. Tibbs. "'it would be disastrous to higher education if pupils started their secondary course proper only after reaching the age of 15. Judging from pact experience it would involve i» serious loss to the community of competent business and professional men, while the new proposals would add materially to the cost of education in New Zealand."' A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER'S VIEW. Mr. Wells said that the conference was held to discuss the question of shorteni ing the school course, as was being done at the present time in a good many countries that lead in education. The general tendency was to shorten the primary school course, making it end about twelve years of age —when the average child was supposed to have reached a mental standard for that age. In London they were conducting examinations for youngsters who had reached that standard of proficiency and "skimming off the cream" for secondary school?. A certain percentage of the remainder who did not qualify for scholarships were sent to continuation schools, and the balance went through a primary education course. In America the general plan was to bring primary school courses to an end at about twelve, and then to 6end the pupils to what was usually called a junior high school—a separate institution, in which the pupils spent from one-third to three- ' fifths of their time in ordinary primary ' school subjects, but they also obtained ' instruction in French, science, mathematics, civics and probably "shop work," which consisted of manual training in woodwork, metal work, machinery, etc. The girls got domestic courses. The pupils were not trained in a.'trade, but the instruction they received developed the benses from hand to eye. These [ schools were practically trying out J schools. Dnring their stay the boys and j girls were able to find out whether they ! I should adopt a professional career or take on a trade. At the end of three 1 j years a conference between the parents ;of The pupil and the teacher was held, and it was then decided whether the pupil should pursue an academic course or go to the Technical College. j ; The conference called by the Minister | i decided to recommend him to make a j trial with one or more of these schools ;in a suitable centre. The Minister was asked to go carefully into the. matter and consider New Zealand's needs. Mr. Wells did not think that there was any intention to make a sudden change. The I j chief difference of opinion at the confer- j ence aronc over the question as to I ■ whether the apparently brightest child- '• i ren should be drafted at 12 years of ] age mto the ordinary Craramar school. j The majority were in favour of all pupils ! passing through a junior high school, i thus making it a trying-out ground. '■ "Personally," continued Mr. Wells. "I was very much impressed with the work of the junior high schools in the United States. It was wonderfully interesting and the enthusiasm that was awakened in I the youngsters in connection with their ! shop - activities was great. I think that at present we are sending to the Gramfnar schools pupils who should not be there, and their lives are wasted. They j sot. into unsuitable callings, whereas if i they had a chance to develop in the i manual direction they might turn out ■ the greatest value to the State. We I don't want to send all the brightest ot [ our children to the Grammar school. We I want some of them in the trades to become future captains of industry."