N.Z. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28051, 20 August 1956, Page 10

N.Z. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

National Party Urges Complete Review PRESENT STANDARDS ATTACKED (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. August 19. The Government has been urged by the annual Dominion conference of the National Party to undertake a complete review of the present educational system, with “particular attention to the desirability of restoring some of the former importance of English, including writing, and arithmetic, in the primary school, curriculum.” Moving this remit, Mr J. H. Preston, of Hamilton, said that the “play-way” system had gone too far. He had been told of secondary school teachers having to teach third-form pupils their tables. A Hamilton businessman had recently installed a £9O adding machine to prevent mistakes by his staff. The Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) said that the education system was constantly under review. Both English and arithmetic were very important subjects in primary schools. Two hours and a half were devoted each week to arithmetic in the lower classes, and three hours and a half or four hours in senior classes in primary schools. Mr D. M. Rae. M.P. for Eden, supported the present system, and said there was great stress when seven hours a week were devoted to arithmetic. In the old syllabus all the emphasis was on arithmetic and grammar, he said. “I deplore the loose use of the word, play-way,’ ” said Mr Rae. “The teacher’s task is to create interest in the work.”