EDUCATION SOCIETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 233, 1 October 1932, Page 10

EDUCATION SOCIETY.

The first of n. scries of educational discussions under the direction of the recently reorganised Educational Society, was commenced at the University College last evening. Mr. A. B. Thompson -—•■". an outline of tlio organisation of education in Soviet Russia. He emphasised the fact that the developmcnte in education in the union constituted one of the most gigantic experiments in history. There was a very close co-ordination between education and industry, and the whole of the system was permeated by ideals of group activity, not only in matters of teaching method, but in the "self-dieclipline" scheme of organisation among the pupils. The method of "complexes" was explained as behiig an alternative, in the earlier stages of schooling at least, to the division of the curriculum into subjects. Social problems, notably the conquest of illiteracy, were being tackled, with, so far as could bo ascertained, a considerable measure of success. In explaining the three branches of educational organisation, social, vocational and political, tho speaker mentioned the criticism that the system seemed to define beforehand what people should think, and in this respect there appeared to be a limitation of freedom. It would not be safe to judge the system until a considerable time had elapsed. It was decided to continue tho discussion at a later date.