BRITAIN’S SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 October 1924, Page 7

BRITAIN’S SCHOOLS.

FEATURES OF EDUCATION SYSTEM. DOMINION EXPERT’S IMPRES SIONS. Interesting features of the education system in Great Britain were discussed by Dr. J. AY. MTlraith, inspector to the Auckland Education Boaid, who arrived by the Ulimaroa alter an absence of nine months from the Dominion. Dr. M’llraith visited Britain to exchange with Mr. G. AA r Buckle, an inspector of Sheffield, Engl land, who has..been stationed at Auckland. The Education authorities in Britain did not restrict Dr. MTlraith to specified districts, and he was afforded exceptional opportunities for ohserv. mg every aspect of education. During Ins stay of six months, Dr. Mellraith inspected primary schools and universities, in both England and Scotland. “From the education point of view England is interesting to New' Zealanders, and since the war education ha s made great progress in Britain, he said. '‘English teachers are now' among the most hi‘gh]y-paid in the world, and the Avhole country sceins to be one great laboratory of educational expel iment. Only the exigencies of financ© keep the benefits of higher edocation from being as widely" diffused as is desirable, and foremost among the interesting institutions are the centra] or junior high schools, for pupils over the age of 11. The industial and artistic training given at these schools merits the highest praise. “Education in New Zealand would probably benefit by the importation of expert English teachers,” said Dr. .MTlraith. He explained that England possessed the greatest resources of teaching talent in the world. It was common to find fully certificated teachers in England whose enthusiasm has ;led them to devote their leisure time to the attainment of greater proficiency. The Government permitted every head teacher to draw up his own syllabus. It was possible for a teacher 1 to receive annual increments to his salary for 15 successive years