NEW PRINCIPAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 8

NEW PRINCIPAL.

ARRIVAL OF REV. J. LL. DOVE. SOME EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS. ~.,.,■ . As an English schoolmaster with previous experience of New Zealand, the llcv. J. LI. Dove, M.A., who arrived from England by the Kuapehu yesterday to tal;e up the headmastership of the Wanganui Collegiate School, is specially well qualified to speak on educational matters in a way interesting to New Zealanders. Mr. Dove is a Lincolnshire man, who was educated at Marlborough College and Christ's College, Cambridge. Before- ccming to New Zealand the first time ho was an assistantrmaster for 18 years at Haileybury Collego, in Herefordshire. Since then he has been assistants master for a short time at Rugby, headmaster of Denstone Collego, Staffordshire, and for the last three years' second master of Durham School, one of the oldest scholastic foundations in England, dating bock to the fifteenth century. From 1899 to 1903 Mr. Dove was vicar of the Hunterville parochial district in this province. He ,was also captain of the Huntervillo Mounted Hides.

"Tho most remarkablo aspect of the Engnish public schools at the present time," Mr. Dove said to a Dominion representative, "is the rapidity with which they are moving with tho times. Tho oldest schools are the most forward in developing scientific education, and all the schools are rapidly equipping themselves with workshops and appliances equal to those of the, newer foundations : worked by tho borough, and county councils. All sides of tho boy!s. education are subjected to investigation by men who do not forget to use the lessons of the past while with open eyes they are building for tho future. The standard of education in tho English public schools is intellectually and morally of a type much higher than they are oite.i given credit for."

Questioned whether the classics were still holding theii own against tho newer teaching, Mr. Dove replied: "Thero is a very rapid development of tne modern s'de, which means instruction in science, modern languages, mathematics, and Latin, In a great number of cases the modern side is now equal in numbers to the classical side, which teaches mathematics, Greek, and Latin. In both the English language and literature are being much more carefully taught, and in many instances the study of. Latin is dropped after the foundations have been securely laid. Geography is a subject that is receiving very careful and scientific attention, and the study of history is developing on lines that are indicated by numerous excellent text-books that have recently been published. In a number of the best schools instruction is now being given in a subject that has received the name of 'civics,' and includes the explanation of imperial and local government. This subject is treated in relation to both history and geography." Tho propriety of opening State schools with prajer has recently been questioned in Auckland. "In all the public schools at Home," said Mr. Dove, "the school chapel is the centre of school life. The day's work is preceded by tho reading of prayers in all of them. In some schools the boys all assemble in the chapel, and in others prayers are read in the school hall. Attendance is compulsory, with very rare exceptions. No boy in one of these schools would over dream of 'cutting' prayers, or chapel. He might be late for them, and then he gets into a row." Mr. Dovo was asked if he had any special plans or new ideas which would bo introduced at Wanganui. He replied that ho would have to become very well acquainted with tho school beforo making alterations. He believed in making changes gradually. "Thero is only one thing certain," he, concluded. "I shall be anxious to keep up the excellent tone of the school as it is now, and the spirit of tho school, and to see that its education is as sound as it is possible to make, it." Mr. Dove is a young man to all intents and purposes. He seems full of keenness and activity, and speaks in a caroful, yet decisive, manner that makes his statements impressive.