Some Classes ‘Are Not Justified’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 14

Some Classes ‘Are Not Justified’

The amount of time spent by pupils aged 11 and 12 on subjects such as sewing, woodwork, and arts and crafts was criticised by the Director of Primary Education (Mr B. M. Pinder) at the conference of the Australasian Association of Institutes of Inspectors of Schools yesterday.

“Perhaps surprisingly, we rather think there is educational value in retaining cookery and dressmaking for the 11 to 12-year-old girl, and woodwork and metalwork for the 11 to 12-year-old boy. Neither is justified by economic necessity or vocational requirements,” Mr Pinder said. . “We New Zealanders have an idea that educated people should be adaptable, self-re-liant, and capable of living *a full life. The 11 to 12-year-old is broadening his interests and developing his skills, and we rather think wellconceived programmes in the industrial arts have an educative value at that age. “But it is one thing to believe in the relevance of the industrial arts in the curriculum for the 11-to-12-year-old: it is another thing altogether to do what we do in New Zealand—that is, to provide three courses a week for all 11 and 12-year-olds in this area.” This involved, for boys, one course a week in arts and crafts, one in woodwork, and one in metal work: and, for girls, a weekly course in each of arts and crafts, cookery, and dressmaking. "Does that represent balance in the curriculum? We doubt it—for some pupils in particular. We are in the

i process of finding more time ■ for science, and, for some : pupils, time for learning a ■ foreign language,” he said. , Sewing had been the ■ perennial compulsory subject • for girls since the mission I schools of 1823. “It was es- . sential for the survival of the • colony in warmth and dignity that the girls should learn to , patch boys’ pants, and darn ; their socks,” he said. “Throughout the decades. ’ and up till 1966, the general primary teacher has carried ' out the task of teaching girls ' sewing.” • With the coming of afflu- • ence—and nylon—the girls ! now made new summer • dresses for themselves in sewing classes. “That's a far cry from • patching boys’ pants, but it is . still sewing; and we are at ; last asking ourselves if this ris the job of the primary , school,” Mr Pinder said.