SCHOOL MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 18, 21 July 1932, Page 18

SCHOOL MUSIC

CIRCULAR TO TEACHERS

For some tini? the position of music in schools has been a matter of grave concern, especially as the improvement that" should be so nianiie«tly evident as the Tesult of the efforts ot the specialist supervisors and. specialist students is to a la,rge extent non-existent, states a cjicular issued by tho Canterbury Education Board to head and sole era, giving some general directions for the improvement ot the status of music in schools. In consequence the inspectorate, in collaboration with Mr. T. Vernon. Griffiths, lecturer m music at the Training College, has drawn up a course for the helpful guidance of all teachers. The treatment of tho subject and the details of method having been compiled by Mr. Griffiths himself, teachers _ should have every confidence in carrying but his suggestions to the full, adds the circular.

A lengthy list of general directions includes the following:— Teachers are required to deal much more sy itematically with music and with sight-reading m particular. Failure to do so must be regarded as a neglect of duty, and as having a detrimental effect on a teacher's future. A headteacher's organisation shows weakness where he does not secure definite continuity and progression from a standard to a standard. The- question is often aiked, "Can sight reading be taught to P. classes?" The answer is 'emphatically, that not only can it be taught, but that inspectois expect that it should be taught. The circular 'adds that New Zealand' teachers have shown that they <san teach other school subjects as well as teachers in England, hut in'sirfgingjthe average New, Zealand school is far behind the average English school. There is no'occasion\to cherish an "inferiority complex" in respect of this subject. Let the teachers take heart of grace and prove their ability to teach, this subject as they have proved their ability in the cu&o of the other school subjects,"