The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, May 10, 1934. TEACHERS’ VIEWS.

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1934, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, May 10, 1934. TEACHERS’ VIEWS.

It was only to be expected that the teachers at. their various conferences would condemn the Government for excluding' children under six from the schools, as it is a false economy. On the oilier hand, it remains t 0 be seen if the. teachers are generally wise in their acceptance of the rationing scheme, even though it might be held Io be one. justification for restoring th* former age limits for pupils. Those teachers on schedule salaries may think it helpful not only to teachers who otherwise might be idle, but to themselves in enabling a division of’ classes, as well as obtaining better results for smaller expenditure. It may do these things, but the help for unemployed teachers is scanty, whereas that scanty rate of payment may prove far harder to eliminate later on than it has been to inaugurate to-day. There is general satisfaction being expressed at the institution of the leaving cer tificate examination, and as long as the tendency is not to destroy its value by lowering the standard. the certificate should prove well worth while to the pupil. The Matriculation level is recommended, and, although the certificate itself marks in fact a line of demarcation as between University and other education, the more that it signifies in knowledge and having the more valuable it will be. One leading educationalist warns teachers against the danger of their 1 remaining in a rut, suggesting more association with such interests as sport, art, hobbies and public life. Such varied experiences may have a broadening influence, but it is only an optimist or one blind to the inevitable effects of mass education who would expect any teacher to adapt the present system Io the manifold types of pupils. The system tends Io produce standardised minds. The most interesting generalities so far broached at these conferences have been in the case of the Technical teachers, who manifestly are ambitious to undertake a. higher place in the national system. The idea, broached by their leading figure, Mr La Trobe is that technical colleges might gradually undertake certain work now associated with university colleges. His conception of the scope of a. university appears to agree with that of some of the greatest educational ists. That the special sphere of advanced learning is the primary end of the university goes with out saying, while Mr La Trobe.

would limit the other courses definitely to the professions, ‘ stipulating full time college residence and attendance at lectures. It is obvious that by no 1 other means may the true univer. 1 sity atmosphere be created or J maintained. A university is af ter all a unit. Association among ■ its varied tutors makes for that . interpenetration of knowledge , which is the motor for advanced learning, while in addition professional specialisation is facilitated by emulation and rivalry. As regards all training of a practical nature, or that outside the professional courses, Mr La Trobe would limit it to technical or other schools. That he has a high estimate of the ultimate scope of the technical colleges is indicated by his view that a tech, nieal college might in centres pro vide a professional university course in any particular occupation where the constituent university college itself does not pro vide such course. This would perhaps give the technical col leges new scope as education is adapted to changing modern conditions. The technical college, to discharge this function, would be affiliated to the local constituent university college, he says, for the purposes of lower professional examinations in the university course. It is not difficult to fore see that were technical colleges to be staffed and equipped for this in one instance, the tendency would be for them to extend their activity along the same line. The technical colleges, however, tend in practice not infrequently to serve only as substitutes for high schools. This might mean a decline in technical education. There is such a thing as having too wide a scope, and if it is a danger with a university, it may be als 0 with a technical school.