Our Education System.

Hastings Standard, Issue 120, 14 September 1896, Page 2

Our Education System.

OPINION OF HON. C. C. BOWEN. [Special to Standard.] Christchurch, This day. This morning the Press publishes special articles by the Hon C. C. Bowen, the author of the Education Act, reviewing the results achieved now that it has been nearly twenty years in operation. Mr Bowen makes several suggestions for the improvement of the system, which, coming from such an authority, are likely to be read with much interest. He urges that it is a mistake to try to introduce secondary subjects in primary schools, contending that it is better that the children should have a thorough instruction in a few elementary subjects than be crammed with ill-understood ologies and a smattering of science, falsely so-called. He protests against the craze for inventing reading books dealing chiefly with New Zealand subjects, and urges that parents should not grudge giving their children a variety of reading books. The paper generally is a plea for less cram more sympathetic teaching calculated to the reasoning powers of children. To this end Mr Bowen thinks it would be better if Inspectors devoted more time to inspecting schools and attached less importance to examinations. He also advocates the Inspectors being under the Department instead of boards.