IMPRESSIONS SCHOLASTIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1402, 30 March 1912, Page 9

IMPRESSIONS SCHOLASTIC.

PRINCIPAL TI'XXA.vrS TUI'K ABUOAD. Mr. J. Tennant, Principal of the Teachers' Training College, anil who recently returned from a lour abroad, addressed a crowded meeting at the Teachers' Institute last evening on the subject of "The English and Scotch Educational system us compared to tho New Zealand method." During (he course of his remark*, Mr. Tennant said he had been rather unfortunate ill his tour as he arrived at Ihe time when most of the schools were closed for their holidays. He to:ilc home with him specimens of the arithmetical cards supplied to the New Zealand primary and secondary schools, and found that in comparison with similar cards used in English schools they were somewhat more advanced. Tho geometrical and metric systems are not dealt with until a higher grade was reached in England. On the other hand, algebra and geometer)' were commenced at an earlier stage than, in New Zealand schools. In Seotlnnd he found the system better developed than in England and more like our own. They spent more time at arithmetic and seemed to make a speciality of domestic economy. Then, the girls in detachments go into flats owned bv the Education Department and go through all the duties of the housekeeper. Another system in Scotland that at- | tracted him very much was the information bureau, established for the uso of boys and girls leaving school anil applying for work. Tin's bureau keeps in cioso touch with employers and boys, and advises them when and how to get positions. Mr. Tennant regretted that lie was not long in tho North of England where tho education system is better conducted than in nny other part of the kingdom. On the whole ho had seen few better schools than the New Zealand ones; many were very much like ours, nnd some a great deal worse. Tho English school examination system was totally different from the New Zealand system. There were not external examinations and the whole schedule of work was drawn up by tho headmaster who alone was responsible to the inspectors for tho progress made by his school. He was much impressed by tho London City Council schools for mental and physical defectives, who were called for and taken at the council's expenso to and from these special schools. Great attention was paid' to organised games in the London nnd Scotch schools—for instance the New Zealand method of physical training was in a great degree replaced by these organised games for tlio boys and in some schools dancing for the girls. 'In Germany, Mr. Tennant found that tha pupils worked much longer hours nnd spent more time at military exercises than in the English or colonial schools, but. taking tho general average he found the public schools to be much the same as the others. In Switzerland he was astonished at the interest and attention paid to educational matters. The school buildings there were far and away the finest he had seen and most complete and up-to-date.

Mr. Tennant was accorded a hearty voto of thanks at the close of his lecture, which was listened to throughout with close attention.