STANDARDS OF EDUCATION

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29024, 13 October 1959, Page 18

STANDARDS OF EDUCATION

“Very Stable Over 30 Years”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 12. Average educational standards of attainment in the basic skills had remained very stable during the last 30 years, said the director of the Council for Educational Research (Mr G. W. Parkyn) tonight. He was talking to the Wellington School Committees’ and Education Association on standards in education. Mr Parkyn said there were considerable difficulties in comparing today’s standards with those of the past. In a few things standardised test results which made comparisons possible were available.

Tests for arithmetic and spelling had been given and showed that samples of children tested over different periods of years were all very similar in their average levels of attainments, he said. Although in certain basic skills had been maintained while schooling had become more adequate to the needs of the community today, Mr Parkyn suggested three further improvements:

Increased understanding of the bases of mathematics, as distinct from skill in computing; Economy of time in teaching certain skills, such as spelling; Earlier and more practical foreign language work.