TEACHING STANDARDS.

Evening Star, Issue 25168, 6 May 1944, Page 6

TEACHING STANDARDS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Since Mr Sinclair's comments on the teaching in schools, both primary and secondary, have again been given prominence, I trust you will grant a mere teacher a few comments in reply. Mr Sinclair states that the standard of teaching must be judged by the results. This sounds quite all right in theory, but overlooks several particularly important aspects of the problem. To .begin with, I would be ■prepared to grant that there has probably occurred a lowering of standard in English' and arithmetic, but is it fair to' blame the standard of teaching for this? Homework during the last 10 to 20 years has been ■ cut to an almost vanishing point. The curricula of both primary and secondary schools have been widened to include art, music, handwork,/ etc Since there are just the same number of hours in a school week, and the scope of teaching is being almost doubled, while the individual effort on the part of the pupil is reduced, how can the same result be expected? And since the teacher is a State servant, and teaches according to instructions, why place the blame at his door? "Verily he will reap his reward, both financially and in appreciation, in some future realm.— I am, etc.. M agister. May 6.