SCHOOL METHODS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1929, Page 4

SCHOOL METHODS

COMPARISON WITH N.S. WALES. (Special to "Star.”) AUCKLAND, February 12. Several phases of educational activity in New South 'Wales were discussed yesterday by Mr C. W. Garrard, senior inspector of schools in Auckland, who returned by the Niagara from Sydney, where he represented the Dominion at a conference of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Inspectors of Schools. He was chosen to introduce a debate on “The Child and Efficiency,” in the course of which he described what was being done in New Zealand to increase the efficiency of sole-charge schools. Particular interest was displayed by the Australians in his report on the work of a junior high school movement in the Dominion. Mr Garrard is convinced that New Zealand is more liberal 'than New South Wales in the provision it makes for pupils to enter secondary schools for, whereas the New Zealand qualification is the Standard VI proficiency certificate, in New South Wales pupils are allotted to high schools on results of competitive examination.. On the other hand, provision for instruction in commercial and domestic arts is more liberal in Sydney.

The Senior Inspector was- impressed by the work done at Carlingford Rural School, one of twelve established in rural districts so as to provide a differentiated course of instruction for country pupils. It consists of a primary school with classes up to Standard IV and a secondary department of 155 pupils drawn from neighbouring schools in a similar manner to that adopted at Matamata Junior High School. The courses of work, however, are more diversified, consisting of agriculture, technical, commercial and domestic science, besides a general cub tural course. The school has a definite rural bias. There is liberal staffing and a good area of the schoolground available for horticultural and general garden experiments, these being of many useful kinds.