SCHOOL COURSES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 52, 25 November 1930, Page 10

SCHOOL COURSES

“Eleven Plus” System SCHEME PRACTICABLE Director’s Southern Tour The opinion that in certain cases the primary school course can even now be concluded at the age of eleven or after the pupil has passed Standard IV, has been .formed by the Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, who has returned to Wellington after a tour of every education district in the South Island, accompanied by Mr. A. Bell, assistant director. Mr. Strong undertook the tour with the object of investigating the possibility of putting into effect certain recommendations of the Recess Committee on Education, and he Is to draw up a report on his findings for presentation to the Minister. One of the questions receiving immediate attention relates to the introduction of the “eleven-plus” system, under which a primary school pupil will pass into the secondary school at the age of eleven or after passing Standard IV. This means that the present forms I and 11, formerly known as Standards V and VI, would no longer be part of the primary school. They would be incorporated in the secondary school, the advantage claimed for this system being that there would not occur the break in instruction which is liable to hinder real progress under the present usage. Of recent years such subjects as French, Latin and algebra have been taught by some primary schools in classes which would in former times not have been undertaken until the pupil had reached secondary school status. Continuity of Instruction. The objection to this method has been that forms I and II in the primary school are not sufficiently linked with the secondary school so as to provide continuity of instruction and teaching interest, and it is claimed that the introduction of the “eleven-plus” system would give this continuity in far greater measure. The subjects mentioned would first be taught in form I and the pupil would progress without the break from the primary school being necessary. Discussing the subject yesterday Mr. Strong said he was of the opinion that the system could be introduced in some districts he visited .where it would involve little or no extra cost. Finance would no doubt play a part, but he believed that the change could be made in some cases at very little cost. Consolidated Schools. Inquiry is also being made into the question of consolidating schools in country districts, and Mr. Strong said he had found that many districts visited were keen to bring about a form of consolidation as outlined in the committee’s report. There could be no question that the consolidation scheme as already practised had proved a success, for it gave to the country districts the same educational facilities as were provided in the cities. Under the present system one teacher in a country setool might be controlling and teaching eight classes from the primers to Standard VI. If another teacher were brought in it would mean that the work could be divided, but if, as under the consolidation scheme, surrounding schools were done away with, and the available teaching power marshalled, the one school remaining to serve the district would be conducted along the lines of a city institution with the resultant benefit to pupils arising from the ability of the teachers to give more time to particular classes.