REFORM IN EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17451, 11 May 1922, Page 4

REFORM IN EDUCATION.

SUGGESTIONS FOB NEW SYSTEM.

A special committeeof the Auckland branch of the New ■ Zealand' Educational institute has, at the request of the Institute,, prepared . a report dealing with education reform, for considerar tion at tlie annual, meeting, to be held in .Wellington on May 16th. As a basis of d'iscussion the committee suggests the following:— ' , I! That thero shall be a primary course, providing h a . thorough grounding in the essentials. of English and t arithmetic,. together with suitable instruction'ia; the elements of'such sub--1 j ects ; as •' geography ,' history, drawing, ' vbtal' musiS, Heiiltn; ana ; morals, pny* .sical .exercises, . and in sUcIT handwork as can with advantage be correlated with arithmetic,- geography, drawing and with observational lessons in Nature study. and and the "science of common things." , 2. I'uat at about the age of 12, •pupils. whose parents. desire . them to .prepare for what may be ,terrned a literary -and scientific or professional career, shall be given an opportunity to qualify for admission to a Grammar School, High School or District High School. 3.; That' all others and those who fail; to qutilify as ' above snail' remain on either in the' primary schools or in Special "post primary schools,'' for, say, during two years,-during which in addition to receiving more advanced instruction in the subjects named above, .they shall enter upon courses of instruction differentiated. for boys, and for girls in such subjects as elementary handcraft, domestic science ■. . or upon a special course for "non* intellectuals." In the lower grades it' is intended that generally board courses should provide for the requirements of all pupils and that in the post primary grades differentiation of courses for individuals shall gradually be introduced. The committee is of opinion that these post primary courses, each pro-! viding for a general culture with a bias toward some general type of life, e.g., industrial or professional, should be.provided in one large school rather than in separate schools and recognised' that where numbers are.small (:.o in New Zealand rural districts) and possibly for other reasons they might even'be provided by* the same institution as that responsible for the prim-; , ary course. .. Subject to certain general requirements, whichi it outlines, the committee suggests the following as types af' syllabuses that should be prescribed for post primary schools: —Course A: General (with language restricted to the mother tongue) to cover three years and to be continued part time for two more years. Course B: Suitable for those likely to succeed in professions requiring much abstract thought (law,. theology, etc.). Course C: Suitable for those likely to succeed in, professions requiring skill in practical concrete problems (engineers, architects, etc.). Course D: Suitablo for those likely to become captains of commerce, industry, etc. Cpurse E: Suitable for those , likely to engage in farming. , Course F: Suitable for those likely to become teachers. . Courses-B to F are all intended as preparatory to a university course. In conclusion, the committee' expresses. the opinion that in addition to fhe matriculation examination other means should be found- for admitting to the university students who can reasonably be expected to benefit thereby, and that the varied curricula of the university should provide for ■ the continuation .upwards of all the i /activities for which.' the 1, post, primary I courses have "been, preparing. /■!.'