SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 10

SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

SYLLABUS DISCUSSED.

EDUCATIONISTS' VIEWS

Faults in the system adopted in pre-sent-day schools were discussed by Mr. H. J. D. Mahon (headmaster of the -Auckland Grammar School) and Mr. F. A. Garry (headmaster of the Mount Roskill school), who gave addresses on "The Curriculum in Relation to Life," at a meeting last night, of the Auckland Educational Society. Mr. A. G. Lunn presided. Mr. Mahon, who dealt with the secondary school course, said that the question of reform seemed to be "in the air" at present. He was of the opinion that the secondary schools received pupils at too advanced an age. It would l>e better if pupils entered about the ages of 11 or 12. To be able to express himself clearly, to have some knowledge of literature and one foreign language, and to be able to calculate quickly and accurately, were the assets which a pupil should have when he left school. History taught to the child should be that of his own country and of historical empires. A grounding of science should he given and a sense of the beautiful developed in the teaching of literature and drama. After a four years' course some would leave, but the best should be kept on for a further two years, takincr specialised subjects. At present the main obstacle to this was the matriculation examination, which was a "bughear" to education. That the curriculum had been infinitely t'io rigid, and that pupils had been tinned out according to pattern and the whole system dominated by! examination, was pointed out by Mr. Garry. To make a child a good and useful member of society, the curriculum should five a bias to wider educat'on. The child should be provided with fundamentals on which to build. Mr. Garrv emphasised the importance of encouraging plav and recreation. It was very satisfactory to see that that vcrv essence of tile new primary school syllabus was to encourage every child in the cultivation of individual thought.