TOWARDS CITIZENSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 57, 7 March 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOWARDS CITIZENSHIP.

EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. A book that should prove of considerable value to those who are responsible for the education of young people over 14, has just been published by the Oxford University Press, under the auspices of the Association for Education in Citizenship. The association includes such well known men as the Rt. Hon. H. A. L. Fisher, Lord Passfield, Sir Norman Angell, Professor Gilbert Murray, Professor Laski, and Dr. Norwood. Its objVct is to advance the study of, and training in, citizenship, and it believes, that direct teaching for citizenship can and must be taught more generally than has hitherto been the case. The president of the Board ot Education, the Rt. Hon. Oliver Stanley, endorsed the belief, and in a foreword warmly commends the book to the attention of all "who are concerned with the vital connection between education and the realities of national life." The book is the work of several contributors, some of whom are teachers in secondary schools, and others of whom base the chapters allotted to them 011 the experience of such teachers. They take the view that education for citizenship moans the education of young peoplo for civic and social responsibilities, and that the life of the school can be used as a means to this end. They discuss the intellectual and moral qualities needed by citizens in a democratic State, and the contributions that can be made iu a school curriculum and through its varying activities. The book is thoroughly modern in the theories and methods advocated, the latter including the study of such important subjects as economics, politics and science, with special reference to biology. There are valuable chapters 011 clear and accurate thinking, and. in the appendices, among subjects dealt with, is the intelligent reading of newspapers, whilst a description of a modern course is given bv one of the assistant masters at Marlborough College. This is a book that should be educative and suggestive to citizens in general, but, particularly useful to the heads of schools and specialist teachers.