STANDARDS OF ACHIEVEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 5 May 1923, Page 12

STANDARDS OF ACHIEVEMENT.

IMPORTANT IN SCHOOL. TRAINING. THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS. TESTS AT DIOCESAN COLLEGE. Speaking on the trend of education at the present time Miss M. K. I'ulling I headmistress of the Diocesan High School), who addressed a large gathering at the concert chamber of the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, said that there was a movement of late to substitute individual stimulus for class teaching and discipline: and to encourage self-development along the lines most natural to the individual. This, it was maintained, would foster a spirit of self-reliance which was not. to be found in submission to recognise authority, and training along orthodox lines. Experiments, in a guarded way. had been proceeding in the lower school. under the direction of Miss Holland; and intellectually the children appeared to benefit; but as far as discipline went the results were disappointing and seemed to show that the system was not suited for Auckland children.

Free study would leave to the girls the duty of imposing upon themselves tiie requisite amount of home work; and it was of «reat importance that they should rise to the responsibility of it. Each should keep in mind, and should aim at. a definite standard of achievement. Girls should get it out of their heads that a standard was good enough even if it was low. The failures in matriculation at last. December's examinations were shocking and showed the lack of the candidates to judge themselves according to a standard— in this case the standard set down in the syllabus of the university. They thought they could get through, and the headmistress and teachers agreed to let them try: and they had learned by their experience that they could not.

"It must not occur again." said Miss Pulling, -and 1 do not think it will, if the girls will take to heart the lesson, namely, that girls must trust their teachers' standard, not their own. 1 shall be disappointed in our girls if we have to go back to the spoon-feeding method, but now that the transition period is past. I do not think it will be necessary."

Stimulus demanded, added the speaker, that discipline be not of the conventional kind, but that it be directed to the positive training of habits and standards.