EDUCATION TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 125, 30 May 1938, Page 9

EDUCATION TO-DAY.

THE MODERN SCHOOL.

EXPERT DISCUSSES TRENDS.

NEW SOUTH WALES DIRECTOR

Important developments in education | were outlined to-day by Mr. G. R. Thomas, Director and Under-Seeretary; of Public Education of Xew South Wales, who is a through passenger on the Monterey. Mr. Thomas is the New South Wales delegate to the international conference to be held at Honolulu, under the auspices of the Progressive Education Association, to discuss the problem of "education for democracy in a world at conflict." He is accompanied by Mr. Xoel Salmon, chief administration assistant of the Department.

The conference was regarded as a most important one, said Mr. Thomas, in view of rapidly changing ideas in regard to modern education, both of children and adolescents. However, the scope of his . inquiries while abroad would be a broad one, and he hoped during hip nine months in the United States, Can&da and probably the United Kingdom to secure information that would prove of great value in the major reorganisation scheme of education that was being carried out in New South Wales. Physical Education. One of the principal aims of his visit to the United States would be to ! inquire into problems arising from the entire reorganising of physical education in New South Wales, said Mr. Thomas. "We are aiming to cover the physical life of the child from the nursery to manhood." he said. "It is a huge undertaking, the pre-school child and the post-school adult physical training bringing forward many new and difficult problems." At the present time tie Governmeni j was seeking abroad a director of physijeal education, said Mr. Thomas. Appli cations had been called in several coun tries and he, intended to interview appli cants, though the appointment would b< made in Sydney, after his report wa* before the Minister of Education. I , would be the duty of the new directo: to take charge of the reorganisation o the physical training curriculum on thi professional side. Inquiries into problems associate* with the "under-privilege" child, as wel as the gifted child, will be made by Mi Thomas. "Arising from this are mat ters connected with child welfare an< coming within the scope of the Chil< Welfare Department." he said, "an latest methods of dealing with chil and adult delinquency will be investigated." Young Dominion Farmers. The question of the junior fanner was occupying a good deal of attention it the present time in New South Wales, said Mr. Thomas, who paid a warm tribute to the delegation of young New Zealand farmers who visited Australia iuring the celebrations. "We were very "lad to have them, and the boys attracted very favourable attention by their fine bearing and behaviour," he said. "The Minister of Education, the Hon. D. H. Druttimond. M.L.C., expressed himself as being delighted with the visit." The exchange of teachers, lecturers and inspectors will also be the subject of inquiry abroad. "I- would like to say in this regard how glad we are to have exchange teachers from New Zealand," said Mr. Thomas. "Very complimentary remarks have been passed about the New Zealand teachers who have visited New South Wales under the exchange scheme," he said. "Australian teachers who have been ever here speak in high terms of the standard if teaching in the Dominion and of the kindly treatment they have received. 11 «m convinced of the great success of J the system and would like to see it 1 extended. There should be the greatest possible measure of co-operation between the two countries in matters of education." Mr. Thomas added that it was his intention while abroad to inquire closely into matters relating to teachers' colleges and technical education for adolescents. Art for All. Discussing more modern trends, Mr. Thomas said that he proposed attending a. conference in Canada on education by correspondence, while such matters as visual and radio education, which were growing in popularity, would be closely explored. Stating that he was personally keenly interested in music and art. Mr." Thoma? said that there was a growing tendency to attach greater importance to these subjects in the schools to-day. A recent I development in Australia had been the i arrangement made with the Australian ! Broadcasting Corporation for eight series j of concerts to be given for school children by the A.B.C. Orchestra in the City Hall, Sydney. "Each of these series is attended by some 8000 children," he said, "and the music is of a high standard. To see an audience of 3000 children following the programme with rapt attention is to be assured that a great deal of good will follow, and that the con certs will have a very definite effect upoi the musical education of the children "Hitherto art has not had the plac it should in our secondary schools." con firmed Mr. Thomas. "Under the nev curricula every child will have a opportunity of participating in such suh jects as arts, and crafts, painting am j music. This will not necessarily be fo j examination purposes, but will' provid j a better cultural background to th< 'education system." J Mr. Salmon's investigation? whil. ; abroad will relate principally to prob I lems of administration, finance am; ! buildings.