THE DALTON SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 195, 16 August 1923, Page 4

THE DALTON SYSTEM.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE EXPERIMENT-

ABANDONED AFTER TRLAL.

CBy Telegraph—Special to "iStar.")

WELLINGTON, this day.

„ Following on the famous Montessor system there came many education reforms (or so-called reforms) m tin methods of teaching, but so far not one has been as sucessful as that originate* by the famous Italian lady doctor. About two years ago the attention o the New Zealand educational authority was drawn to the Dalton system, whicl was founded in America. This scheme promised to give the student more scop< for individuality and to develop hn initiative. The Dalton system wa, introduced into New Zealand school, about 18 months ago, and was tried last year in Wellington College. ONLY IN SMALL CLASSES. At the Wellington College it lasted for a little over two terms, when it was finally abandoned as being unsuitable. It conversation with an "Auckland Star representative a short time ago Mr. T R. Cresswell, the headmaster, said thi< he thought the scheme could be worked only in small classes, and only if thf whole school were under the supervision of a master during the whole of the time—that is in a boarding school. With large classes it made the work of the master most difficult, and it was impossible to give each student the individual attention required under the system. The experiment made at the Wellington College involved the four leading 6fth forma only, and was not tried in the case of French. The four clase rooms occupied by these forms "were divirled into the Latin room, the mathematics room, the science room, and the English room respectively. TIME FOR RESEARCH. The students were set a certain amount of work each week in each of the four subjects, and it was estimated that after this had been finished they would have a certain amount of time fbr individual research. The laboratories were also thrown open to the students s6 that they might conduct the practical work individually, and besides this the library was thrown open for reference work. They were allowed plenty ot liberty to converse with one another, and there was also a master in charge of each room in order that the students might consult him concerning difficulties. Every student was required to keep a record of his work, and these were inspected by the form master on each Monday, when ordinary classes were held. | Such was the echeme put into opera* tion at Wellington College. WORK ACCUMULATES. After a few weeks it was found that owing to the size of the classes a, great deal of uncorrected work was accumulating. The masters were doing their utmost to cope with this, but in many cases it was impossible. This 6tate of) affairs gave come of the boys an opportunity to slacken their pace, and being human, they took it. At last it was found impossible to carry on, and this year the college has reverted to the old system.