EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 36, 11 August 1921, Page 9

EDUCATION OF CHILDREN

10 THE EDITOR. Sir, — As a parent I have been interested in the remarks of "Hope Deferred." The examiner is shocked that the children cannot work sums dealing with tho speed of trains. Some children are very proficient in such tricks; others can work other sum „problems—they are quite happy with puzzle sums; other children, again, detest arithmetic, they find it nearly impossible, it does not appeal to them. Probably the latter will be interested in other work. I have known a case where a brother and sister wore considered to be deficient in brain capacity, according to their school syllabus work; but the boy, who was a dreamy dunce at school, turned, out to be very clever at musdo and fine cabinet work; the girl is now a well-known artist. This was during the bad old days of too fnany children in a class, no freedom of. classification, and rigidity of the school syllabus. Sir, we dare not standardise our children or their work. Let the teachers find out what our children are suited for, and then give them every opportunity to allow the child to express the best that is in him. The proof of good education is a well-trained worker proud of his work, and turning out his-best. To work is to pray,, whether it be at a profession or at the very humblest task. There is something wrong with education that produces a disgruntled workman or a blase, frivolous, rich man. Our examiners have a great deal to answer for when they' judge a child's -education by his ability to work one kind of- sum or answer one set of questions. Why not use their ability to investigate the curriculum?' Many parents wouH be thankful for a change in the Prussian rigidness of our school syllabus. Parents must afeo" see to It that there i« an adequate sum of money get aside each, year for improvements in education. The Minister of Education has done a great deal to improve the primary schools, and money will .be found to help the secondary schools if the parents take the matter seriously. The position of the Technical College at present is a disgrace, ft is necessary to raise" money by local effort, and yet New Zealand is a prosperous country.— I am, etc., C. ANDERSEN. 9fcli August.