ENGLISH IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1932, Page 13

ENGLISH IN SCHOOLS

REPORT CRITICISED

'A SWEEPING STATEMENT'

'Certain statements regarding tho teaching of English in primary schools, contained in.the report tof Mr. E. Fitzgerald Eagar, head of. the English departmentLof jhe_.Technical College, presented at a meeting of the College Board of Governors last night, were criticised by Mr. A. C. Blake, a member of the'board. -:''■ '

| Mr. Eagar stated 'in the report that jfar from regretting the change of sylllabus, he anticipated that the' raising of the standard for proficiency would be of great, value to the college. "It has been our experience to find that the primary schools have done little or no formal grammar, which must be j the basis upon, which the work in English of all post-primary schools is built," stated Mr. Eagar. "It will now be compulsory to give this formal grammar in the primary course, so that our work in future should be to carry on from that point instead .of having to reach it; we almost invariably find that pupils coming to us cannot even distinguish parts of .speech, and do not seem to have heard of punctuation. The few primary schools that have consist: ently ignored the prejudice which, has persisted so long against formal grammar have done a great work, and their training has given their pupils a tremendous advantage over those of other schools." ..'.'•

■Mr. Blake said he thought that Mr. Eagar's reference to formal grammar in primary schools was rather a sweeping statement to make. It -ivould be interesting to know what the primary schools' inspectors had to say about it. He- Believed that the syllabus did not require the same amount, of formal grammar as formerly. He understood that the teachers were teaching according to the syllabus, and if the syllabus did.Mot. require formal grammar, then it was not the fault ■of the teachers. Mr. Blake also criticised the statement referring to punctuation, and said he-would like-to know the opinion of the .principal of the college on the matter. The statements were a reflection on the work being done in the primary schools..' : . ..

The principal (Mr. E. G. Ridling) said that English had been tested in oral and written expression, and itjwas clear that the pendulum regarding the teaching of English had swung too far away. The teaching of English in technical schools was on broader lines. The weaknesses when the pupils first left primary schools wore not so apparent as when they entered the technical schools. As to punctuation, it was difficult to get good work out of the. pupils at first. He had frequently stressed: tho necessity of giving lessons in punctuation. The weaknesses mentioned could only be removed by long practice.

After further discussion tho report was received. .