TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17732, 7 April 1923, Page 11

TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

THE SEX DIFFICULTY. "A report has I been issued recently," said Mr C. H. Opie, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Technical College at the meeting of that body last night, "by a representative English Committee dealing with the differentiation of the curriculum of boys and girls, respectively, in secondary schools. Iwidence has been taken from teachers, headmasters, parents, medical men, psychologists, .arid all others whoso evidence could bo of value, and the report is of great interest to us, in view ol' the fact that co-education is carried on in our school. The committee states that a- differentiation of course* should be mad© according to the different social functions that are to be carried out by the pupils, but that it should not necessarily follow by reason of the difference of sex. No recommendations nr.* made as to xt curricula, but instead a wide curriculum in each school is advised, with a fair choice of, sulfjocts, to allow pupils some latitude in following their natural bent. More attention should be paid to training for leisure, and in thisl connexion the Committee points out that insufficient attention is given in the English scoondary schools to education in music and art. Thero is no doubt that, speaking generally, th® same fault is to be found with our schools in New "Zealand At the same time the Committee draws attention to the fact that girls have their leisure time more fully occupied than boys, especially in domestic duties, so that ii : they progress in their studies as rapidly as boys, it is only by exercise of more physical and mental exertion. The Committee maKes a. recommendation that boys should includo a measure of practical domestic work in their secondary school courses, and this is all the more interesting to us, since for reveral years numbers of the boys attending this College received instruction in cookery' A valuable suggestion by tho Committee is worthy of notice, namely, that many of tho activities of tho schools are over-organised, and too much is done for the scholars, bn'th in the class-room and outside it. Tho opinion is given thai this fault produces children who are well informed hut rather dull, and lacking in spontaneity and initiative. In ]S>ew Zealand ns well as English schools there is an undoubted tendency to over-organise.'' The report was adopted. j