IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 6

IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Tf a really serious attempt were hoh\« made to stabilise our admittedly shakv civilisation, thought should first of all lie naturally jrivcn to the foundation, and having got thus far it would appear that the young child* mind is really the foundation, although schools, colleges, ape old institutions, all contribute towards the h'nal product. To ensure , the permanency of a modern concrete building, much cart* has to l>e. used in proportioning and moulding the foundation material while in plastic condition, and recourse is also had to the use of the. plumb bob, square and Jevel in testing the accuracy or otherwise of the structure. With regard to primary education, including the pre-school yearn, can it be said that we have been sufficiently <a refill in the past in the moulding and training of that important foundation as represented by the young child's mind? The use of fairy stories, legends and other fictitious matter as moulding material surely leaves much room for improvement, as in the past the rod of correction was freely used, actually to prevent the child mind from conforming too closely to the nature of the mould used, as in the ense of falsehood or romancing on the child's part. Considering tliis abuse of the child's mind. Iβ it any wonder that our civilisation is in mch an unsatisfactory condition, while savagery learned only to "the extent of contact with reality seems reasonably a*-nred of continuity. A great work has already 'been done, by our Plunket Society for the youth <>f this country, but teaching during the earliest years apparently deserves much more attention than it has received in the pa-t. Women of our time are rightly endeavouring to take a larger part in national affairs, but they would possibly achieve more by concentrating on the child's early training than competing with man in sphere* of activity more suited to him on account of hi- stronger physique, and while [working on the foundation they would be I able to exercise all the influence of ina-ter I builders. <:i:or\n ri/)on.