TEACHING OF HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 140, 14 June 1924, Page 7

TEACHING OF HISTORY

HON.. C. J. PARR'S SENTIMENT.

(8* TELEGRAPH.—PRESB ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. The Hon. C. J. Pair, Minister of Education, speaking at Newmarket, said: — "For some years history has not been given serious treatment in the primary schools, which its importance demands. In the last syllabus it was made a compulsory subject, but the examination is not a written one, it is merely oral. Wo want an assurance that every New Zealand boy and girl is getting sound instruction in tho history of Great Britain and New Zealand, and we propose that written questions shall be put which will elicit answers giving, a fair idea of the pupil's knowledge. Children will not be able to grow uc as good citizens, understanding their full rights and the privileges of freedom they enjoy, unless they learn how the nation came to win those rights, and know something of the battles and sacrifices of our ancestors who secured for us the blessings of freedom which we enjoy to-day. They must know something of the- history of the Motherland to understand and appreciate this." It was also intended that children should be taught something of the history and growth of New Zealand, wliich was full nf interest.