NOTES ON EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 10

NOTES ON EDUCATION

■: ..r-v ..' . '!(By ."Socrates.") . . . "Educational Science.'!- 7 , • 1 Sir" Phillip,' Magnus,' 1 I Presidents' of the. Educational section of' the' British Assoc.. ' . tion, delivered an intresting lecturo on Educational'. Science": < at iL'oicestef recently. :Horb aro..a : .few striking .paragraphs,:rr- ; .;v A -Hint ; >.rom -Japan, -I'.:';;-:-': !. . "One. of...the five articles in' what is.-,known ; as the, Japanese Imperial Oath,, states that, :' 'Knowledge shall be : sought 'for' .throughout. Ithf. ivholq. vvorjd, so .that, .the welfare or; tho j Empire.,may .Ije' promoted it -.may.joor-. tainly-bq said that,;.as ; .the welfare ;of'.oui' : own iEinpir.e -is. largely - dependent on.cduca-'t-ional, progress,; a. wide-knowledge of matters connected .. with education is,; indispensable,if wo are, to .make advances with- any feeling of,certainty,.that,wo arc-moving on the right linos.' v..• :(' ■■■••' 'i ,Environment l andy'Education.-,; ... : !i -.'The' consideration' 'of"education 'as ; a sub|joct' capablo of'•'scientific'', investigation, ! ;is 'complicated "by 'the fact "that 1 itnecessarily :■ .nvolves a k relation—tho • relation'•; of the ichild'.'or adult -;to ' his ! surroundings. It ;cannot be'adequately'considered-'apart from that relation.' Wo' may 'make a study' of the conditions' 1 of the physical, 1 intellectual," and jothical development of the child, but-the ; knowledge 'so obtained; iis only' useful :to;;jthe : educator when _ considered in connection •wjtli'|his' environment, aiid. futuVe"needs, aiid ' the.; means, to be r 'addpted ~ib enable, hini, as hp'&rows in physical',, intellectual, and moral strength, .to,.''obtain ' a . mastery., over tho : things external, to .him. ; .Education.'must • bo' so.,directed as .to 'prov.o I( .,,the. proposition 'that, 'knowledge..'is ppwer.||lt. caitToiily.,bo i scientifically; .treated when,. considered. J Education 'is.'imperfectly. described..,when, rejgardcdlas, a "means].,pf, . drawing .-.out-i and, i strengthening a faculties. It._,iis more, than., that. Anypractical: definition , must take; into consideration the social aijd ecbnomic,: conditions in.'.which.• the .-.child, jisi being trained,"! and,-the. means. of developing his' faculties . with .a, view. ,to.. the. attainment, of,certain.'.ends.-, i<>?■

Foreign Methods Not...Applicable,

i ' '""Urimin'dful"6f. : t!ie''fact' that ;educatipn ,is' a i reiiticii;". iiid 'that • cciiscquently 't-hb' n ' Sanib 1 syste\ii' of "''education is 'not .''bqu'ally 'appljf : cable' ; .t'b !; diifereht' ; ' conditions, there 'were ' aiaiiy in this'cbU;itry i ;®h'p' n w.erb] 'only too ready tp"fecoaimcnd"the adoptie'n of Gorman' metlipds r in'" puf"-'pwn schools. ' Experience soon showed, however, that what ; may .hayoHbeefi (good;; f6r::.;G'erma'ny '.tlidfnot 'apply to England, am)..that..in educational ; matters wo would do well te fpllo-v Emer--150n,.; w;ho declared,.-; IJVe,- will -_>yalk - on"\our : pivn '.fe.et, ,wo, : will work wjtli, ; euiv oym-.hands,-own minds.!j, ~ Old r/icihccfs to bo Diiicardod., -;.j

'"Very- rightly, studqrjts ; in,.training for-tho teaching jpipfession, ~aro , expected ~ip -:'study .the JvrinngSi jof i.Locke, .Rousseau,,-Milton,. ;^pn4ai^oiV;9nd.Vpjthorai.tiu^|- ; areapt.to, | overlook','the..fact- these' .writers had, -in. ! vieiv- a'jrlifferont kind oi'.-education- froih-tliafc 'ini.y.:liicti", are., engaged, iand i that, jtjheir,' suggestions,; excellent; as_.ir any . of ' them' are, were 'mainly 'applicable to ,the in'- ; struction. to.be, given by.: a. tutor,,to-his pri- ■; vato'-'pupilj'i'ahcl, had jliitle--orf no, reference to the teaching of thp'cliil.dren.of joxpressly organised. fpr> the eduqation, of ; the' many.., o;ily.recently haye ,we coine, to,realise 1 tl{at.. a' democratic, system. of. education,,in- ! tended, to;provide,. an, f iiitellcctual. arid, riloral training for all "citiaehs ,qf the,.State, : rand ; so organised, : . it.: affords,, |ac(iifnesi*for., the...full. development. 'of',skilliandopacity:"; >ykenev-cr :; lhey may-, 'occur:;-; inu^> laims l froip'that, .under-which, j many bfljisy gpgg ■{ ...,.1-.',-;• I I'sf'-tVaUo HHfaßf!fii%2frshia£ ithtf riftWolldffi? el?rfß^S l ™ I ftM o fefe"ii<offiient,' I iff-'thS? c(siuli'tT6!fts'km r rf^' ? \?h)eH Work, 1 wliether' ! in' v the"-leld, : /the' factory, • or. tho 6fflceJ-' h'Sve'' necesiiit'iited -corresponding'. 'changes' '-'mHhb'rfucatibn-."to 'be'provided' as' ','k »preparation 'for'the-'difffirehl/- 1 pi(t'suits"!-itf-which-the ~peopl6 : , generally '• "'are occiijiibd.' . 'notrnthstaiidiiig'-- I .'these' ' J grefet '-'forces whiclf-'h'ave ; broken in "• l iipb'U',-" ; and * disturbed' :diir : ideals,'—forces;' t>hb : \ strength'"and "far;reaching. effcfcts. bf :: whiclj'''we lT rcadily' admit;' i —"\vb' still hesitate '" t'oMafee '"the' -'newly-' ; arisen' circ'umstances'" ; an'd' : to 'adapt'ouf-' edu- ■ cational' work"to ■!its' vastly extended-area: J 6f joperationi'and" to' 1 the altered i'coriditiplis' and .requirements of' modern''life'.- 1 '- "Our-young jpeople-Phavb'gained''' very "''little'* 1 practical 1 'knowledgo"; : ' :, a!id what'^t-liey''-have l gained.?. . tliey,(.aro' unable ? tp ap'jily: '■ they'' ]a*ck • 'initia- 1 ability to' 'Use' 1 books' fir'their"'own 'guidance, l or 'th6 } read' forliS'elf-improvemontil' -'fMWe''' 1 seeing ' to' havb" erred in neglecting"to l utilise 1 praotical : 'pur-; guits ,| as l 'th'e-' ; basis''-bf eilncati6ii, T -'hrid inH'ai.l- 1 iiig'to : bmld Upon 'themi' '■bvoIVD'-frorii' th'e'm 1 - the'' mPiltal-' discipline""'find't knowledge that 'would 1 'have 1 ', 1 'proved valuablo to"tho' ; dhild in' "My''subsequent 1 ' Occupation;' or - as' a' . basis "for futureatt'airim'entL ;> ; We.'hßvp" made ;th'b : ,'mistake''of v arresting;'- by, mean's 'of an 'artificial literary"ti-aining,' 'thb'-'spontan-.66us!'d'evblopnifcht;'of''. activity,' which: begins in'.'earlicst "■•mfancy'j >jt arid' ■ 'cqntimies ," to" strengthen as'the^hild'-'isybroiight'iiito-ever closer'contact 1 with 'his natural' Surroundings.' Wp' havo 1 provided-ah. education- for 'our boys which; might;- have;/-been'/'suitable' for"clerks'; and', ; ?what'- is' worse, wc'"hartf gono dlth'dngh 'wb'have lialt; "t-v rrf'ake' ,'our gir.ls--iilto" 'jii"di6s , ;': " while' l Ave hav'p run sbirie'-'frsk of failing "to/prPdiice w'omerii liv' tho''-practical v ,-"pursuits. l connecteds'ivitlv the' ''field-; : th<!, -workshopi' 'and" the;' homeland in'''the'''oleiiientary teaching >';of ' scieiice and letters' jncidontil 1 thereto-;' we; ibight ■:lay.: the ' foundations of : a- rational system "of' primary ■ education. — three - objects''the field;' the'- \yorkshop, 'and' tho home —should be tho pivots on which the'schemo instruction should ' be "fixed, i ••the!' I 'central thoughts determining' thorfcharacter of' the teaching to -be-.'-'igiVeni:• iA'if.rural and 'urban schools for boys-ii'and"-.i-girls:»l strongly'urge, however,'that "the child should receive less formal teaching; '.that opportunities for' self-instruction, ' through- 1 out-door pursuits,' : mannal 'exercises,vor tho: free' uso of -books should be'increased;'"! .'ic-,:... - ■ The'! Problem; ■-• 'ri; I "''-" "The problem of, jirimary education' is';to teach by "practical metlibd's ,- the ' elements ' of letters'and of 1 science';' the' art of accurate expression; the ability ,to .think and to con l trol the will; "and the ordiniry should be such tliiii as load prehension ofthe,proccss.es. that bring I 'tho chiid into ' intimato' relation' with the 'world in which hp moves;''''The'practical training I; have,' ridyocatjctfvTrosl!*';prfivji the' ! ]mbst suitable 'fpr';.' - deyelqpihg''''tlip' 'ph'ild'sjintelligenco' 1 and aptitucles, iind for "enabling him to derive the utmost advantage from attendance .at', the diifp'rent''types' of secondiii'V fitted' for His a&&rtii'ned^'abiiities: 'afid; i kljdwlodge.'' , Tlib\beht of.;fe -cliild's' intellect I .'would'bo'' fully .determined"; bbfore thd; age ' when[''' the"'earliest specialisa'tibh ' would ;; , be'' defeirablc;' .' No ' sclicmb. .'bf instructipn' ifor ] primary schools cah' be' wihch; is Pot so' aVraugbd', that!wliild 'providii\g''th'd li suitable 'teaching' for' children ' who'; pdrforco must" bntCTi'sohid'^^'wage-,earning'' , pUrsuit ,,: at the ago of'l4,''or 'at'' tlie close' of "their "olemontary school-course-,-: shall rat the same timo afford a sound and satisfactory basis upon which''secondary.jand highers education may'be''built."-!' ■! - -'U ■■■: r.i-.ycv'- - :.v • 'SALAlllks!'".'.f-' "Under/the present system of" ; payment on of nri' ppidp'mic' which'' has dccitnated;;of'the a' basis' 'of aftcrjriath : 1 '!obeing,''^the' schdpl.. populatipii ; 'qf.J a/Mis-' trict i;| 'ia. Boards, and teachers i ( .to ' pondor ; ,'oy ( <,ii;.'':r -M.. .Thursday's meeting -of tho A\'dllihg;toh, : Educatiop Boards, tjiq -scoretaryj-. irr.i.G-. iL. -Stewart,"- called the . attention of membors ; :to' the.",present "state of tho! '(ivbrage" atten'dc.nce"i- , >'Th'c recent:,cpi : ddmics worti rosp'o'iisiblo for; a s6ripus v: dr'op , in fclio' percentagii of ..ai'cragd' attdndiinco for tlid' q>tar,tqr's,,',a's ,jv'as I» y,. t^;,^b)ljoping,.cprapa'rativq;;iablp ;v Viiloll'-'i': 1 ;iAverage»Per-:: • June;i'.;- '':"NoV ''' v Attendance. 1 < icentage; : --ISKK) '... 1(51401 : iH',2B3 u | : ' 87' ; l iy07.'.;16,525';; n T ;''13,88(5;' V .; Si'; September'." - ; ' 1906 ... 10,435 14V442" '' " '87.8 I<JU7 ... 16,521 '- 13,074 82.7

The position was a painful one, as in some cases teachers were threatened, not only with a reduction of salary, but also with actual loss of position, and .before communicating 'with those teachers, ho wished to know the : miiid of the. Board onit-hoiiniiLtton Alr.:T.'Ait'ken considered that the present system wag theoretically sound, but iu practice its operated soin'ewliat .harshly; (An epidemic wlis"*'cu'eirely beyond the control of the teachers, ■and it was unreasonable to suggest that they should be penalised' in this way. Ho was of opinion , that ,-other-,Boardsshouldy.bc; communicated with by telegram, asking jfor their' sympathy.'Mid suppbrt, and that a deputation; representative ~of the views .- of .Education, Boards -bo-appointed to.appjoadliitho 'Uoverniuent.,, lie moved that a, commibtca cpusistin'g the town- members ,be : , constituted accordingly...'Mr. ~ilri M'Donald; thought ithaf-members ought" to, havo ;. ; something- definite, -by i Way of? iilteiv native, to .put before, the (jovernmeht. siU~j

UUr.v Aitkeii''thought'-that ''tliatn was the Government's' businass.''j'Tiioy-', (the'.'iUdrfrd) 1 - were merely' concerned with tlie'S report- : o'f the position..;.'-'' "li Ki '.into.hTi nrfT; .

"'Mr. Allen'- referred f t6'.'the.NeV : 'Souitli Wales system:''-There; he: sald^'if' I #' teaeherY'at? tendance"dfopped; r thefc, V"' ; i y nif reduction . :(if''Salary or" loss of 'position/: "I'b'b teacher's status'w l as.maintained'.until 'th'i';'autfi6'rities■ .wore"in a "position ,r to' oiler hi'nf'aii 'appoiit-' . ment : fcqua.l' ih; value' to 'ih¥*/.x&6' ,l ; : wKiai had'depreciated; It 'hb'Tcfiied'- it; ! 'tlieir ; he ! hed perforce; to take''a"lpV.'er: : ;positidn: :!,; . i i '? Mr; Hogg,. Mlii'.ill', did! hot''thihk ','tliej should try',to interfere without good 1 grpundsj "i'lie trouble was ton district. The Minister v'as.eiideivpuring' to ' make the, 'systeiji . as'/.'pei : fcct. r as ; ; ( witlipU,t' jinduly increasing' iivoryciie appeared .tp'b'e 'enaeavouririg. 'te iii:, - crease expenditure.'.'! '/■ %•. ,^en,|ib^'.^e, l : day was,not..gonig, to ' f cpinn.iiicq rtftreneliing ! by^cutting ,dpvvu; the.., 1 ; n itlr...Aiticeii said'..tliatjio coiicessibns'.wbuld*' ' asked for,.;, .The G overnmeat woidd.merely' . be -Mr. I', -It.,- Fleming,.• Chief;.,lnspector,;-, ox - plained,. the,f.*positipn. I»r:Tho regulations iproi- • vidua that .'in L a.large,school ;the decrease-.noi cessary; to.cause a reductiori;.of : stalling-shall ;andj-lQ .for .three,.quarters;lE- itvean be and.vlO for; three [quarters, .r. If shown toi'tliei: satisfactipn,.-of.rthe ..District; i Health. ofiicer.!that"lo pciv.ciiitr.ofithe-pupils atsa: school; havo;been ,'affocte'J byi an .epidemiQ-it-is;permissible-to. substituvji 111 calculating 'the average, .-two: quarters'-, cf 'tho previous year;, fit'wouldibe necessary,,to act'-at; once,l if'" the- regull).tipns,:owhich-.t>vcro mandatory;; ;wero;:t6ibe suspended; ~',Hv siiggested'.-that the 'MiriistcE'be asked' not'; 6«- eiiforciv thoi ro-; gulations 'Whero' staifs' and 'Cilaries rwpukh bo 1 reduced"owing to a-'decremA:. •in .'-attendulieff as - tlre L ''resiilt .lof'" 1 opideniics,; sri long' asvif could'- be shown l * th:.i: thoFfreductioni was 'duo to' the' epidomic;'' . It 1 ' Was "decided . tHat"' the comriutteo'''sh'ould,' : "wh'ero 'liossiblpji • deal ;with"speciar , cases';" Iri''vioW of selit' 'situation iu'/WelljiigtcS; l tjio'"fi)llowihg foxtract? from thb'' i rep6rt' l bp Education Board's meeting "'should' havb'.'a' sigftiliciiilt-'interest:—'' .•• ' ' 'jlandaiqry 'Regulation; T!ie\'ToaclicrS Sis 5 ■ lection,' 1 . ''tbati't'uf - tofurs < ;',dfj','the. linaiidatory; 'regulationto'itfiatii -dffectV,,.r.iotic6 i j'pf termii'iatioi. of .cgagemerit'' b^-U^^t'to : I; (w)ipnii it .was'ucc6ssary ';to 'discHarge,' owiiig' tp.' I( 'dMreas'ed'l;attendance), .of .'.'tkd! r ;fpUbiviiig' ' a.t| MakUu,', Port. Puljoi,'.. To, P.iiVc, 1 Chapel' Stjreet;. r ßefesfprd\"S.treet,;' iWaifii; and pupil-tc-a'cbers''' :;tf; Aoroa, 'Kambj' Mbiint.Roskillj I?a{)aku^,'.'an^'To-^Y^^tTL'' ■ .Mfc does not appear;,frpmijthe;'abovc : ,.para-. . graph. .whetlier the'; dccreasei ;referred ~to has: ; resulted, from: epidemics-; or.-iiotoilt, is clear.however, that the;. eausesyY.'hich confribut-ed; toi their discharge from- ,the : ,Board!s service wero wholly beyondv.their.wCtintrpl.vOf .course',' •as: Captain M'-Donald -pbinted out. during' the discussion tin the same, quoi,tion; at^he-Jfel-, lingtbin • Board's' .jneetingyu'iito is f .maiiifestlyj ridiculous !> tbicJcDutinua .< ofc ,ai ■ Salary L out o'fiiallcpnopopiscitliitb' iKe; 1 reduced responsibilities occasioned bfa.-decreased.at-tendance; but there must ■ be,' nevertheless,; 'some measure of protection afforded to in- • dividuaJs; who,.,are> liable, to be; penalised for . sych ( a. "J * j.,., f The .shipbuilding ,ou'£j)uti;6f' '(the, Clyde..,,fpP ' tho eight I'montljs; bf,i,tiio • prcsonf,^^year.js.. record,- amounting- r to ' 420,000 tons,;, against", last vear's total. ; of,!4l2,Opo^...y.Duriiig l Augustji 50,0011 tons, pf shipping,,was .launched,-.agajiisl : tons f in-, tho, .same, l.ionth j last* jiqar-t Exceptional, large,,prdejs,.wore,bboke,d f; diiring; < July, ■ ,and>i.t)ipse.;nbw.,,in . hand,.ampunt ...tu,, about-150,00.0 ijt.pns. ; >n J,'', ,c