EDUCATION IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21972, 22 December 1936, Page 5

EDUCATION IN BRITAIN

REVOLUTIONARY REFORM PROPOSED REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF SUBJECTS (Received December 22, 12.45 a.m.) (UNITED FHZSS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIOHT.) LONDON, December 21. The "Morning Post" says revolutionary reforms in preparatory school curricula, which are calculated to affect the whole educational system, were proposed in a report before the Preparatory Schools' Association.

The essential points include a reduction in the number of subjects, the teaching of geography, history, and English as a composite whole, greater emphasis on arts and handicrafts, and the postponement of Latin and French until the age of at least 11. The report of a sub-committee consisting of principals and headmasters describes the accepted curricula as designed for the scholar rather than the normal boy, and as inadequate as a preparation for life. It advocates the co-ordination of subjects to illustrate and connect one with another, adding that the present curricula consist of too many unrelated subjects, introduced from time to time in order to meet the demands of public opinion. It expresses the opinion that examinations designed to test knowledge instead of intelligence are harmful, and suggests that scholarship examiners should seek boys with a creative instinct rather than potential university scholars.