CHILDREN'S VISITS

Evening Star, Issue 19229, 21 April 1926, Page 4

CHILDREN'S VISITS

THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE

[Special to the ‘ Stak.U

CHRISTCHURCH, April 21. “ Have the school children derived any direct benefit from their trip to the Exhibition?” asked Mr H, O’Dell, at last night’s meeting of the School Committees’ Association. _ The speaker said that, in his opinion, there was no question of the educational value of these trips, but he had hoard the head master of a Christchurch school recently say that it was questionable whether any educational benefit was derived. Mr W. West, who-has been a member of one of the parties to the Exhibition, said there was no doubt about the general educational value of tho visits, but the particular value depended largely on tho teachers. They snpuld make every effort to question tlie children from time to time, and stimulate their _ memories. Without such stimulant it was doubtful if a child would retain a lasting impression which would be very vivid. He knew of one boy who had visited the Exhibition, and who would talk at intervals of what ho had seen. This was tlio case with many pupils', but it was too much to think -that children could retain a clear and lasting impression of all they had seen. “ I am surprised at any master saying there is no educational value attached,” added Hr West. “The mere fact of having such an experience, and having so many objects presented to them, is a hundred times better than anything they win see in hooks.”

Mr Purnell said they should not pay much attention to the remark referred to. They had received a valuable education in a general sense if in no other. Even if children wore not conscious of the impressions they received they still had them, and many of them they would retain.