EDUCATION AND OUR TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 74, 20 December 1917, Page 8

EDUCATION AND OUR TEACHERS

. Sir, —I believe that in a week or so the New Zealand Educational Institute will meet in Wellington. Believing that this might be an opportune time to review some of the features or our educational system, I would venture to trespass upon your space to suggest one or two lines of thought that might profitably be brought before the public. The Honourable the Minister of Education is reported to have said recently that about half of.tho pupils who left tho primary 6cheols last year did not continue their education. _ This being tho case, it is pertinent to ask to what extent theso scholars were fitted to enter upon the task of corning their living. Can they tend an ordinary book with understanding. Do tliev know where to look for any 111 Formation which they may require? Could they "use with advantage to themselves, or to their employers, the splendid re-

fcrenco library in Wellington? Cat they write with facility a legible handr Or express dearly their thoughts upott any given subject? Is their knowledge of and accuracy in arithmetic euch a« to make Hint subject of practical uso to them? Many such questions as. these will suggest themselves to yourreaders. '1 lmve a gr.cat admiration for our national system of education, but, with many others, 1 think that there jiro some ways in which it might he improved, and so more adequately equip*--our boys and girls for their entrance'l upon their life's work. Tho conditions, forced upon us by the great war makeit imperative that this important question should be considered well, and quopreparation inado to set our educational house in order. One pressing need —indeed, by many authorities considered to be the most pressing need—is the provision of a thoroughly trained and cultured staff of teachers. We have four admirable training colleges, and still, wo are told, the supply of teachers is not sufficient for our needs. Why is.this? I should like to rofer to some other aspects of this question at an early date. —I am, etc., PATER.