EDUCATIONAL METHODS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 July 1928, Page 12

EDUCATIONAL METHODS

TEA ITERANCE WORK

AN IMPRESSIVE’ LECTURE

The need of teaching the young people of the nation to think straight and to reason, on matters of vital interest. to the people was stressed in a most interesting lecture given by Miss McOorbindaile last evening in the Methodist B.G. room, when she spoke

convincingly on “Modern Methods of Education.” Mr F. W. Horner presided and briefly introduced the speaker, expressing pleasure to see present teachers from Sunday and day schools, and members of Bible classes. He explained that Mass MeOorkindml© was an expert in youth work from Ap.stra.li a and had had wide experience .in talking to young people. In her preliminary remarks Miss McConkindale urged that modem education should tend to focus a direct interest on national questions and to develop in the youth of the nation a habit of logical thinking for, she added, people did not sufficiently .realise the tremendous power of habits once formed in reference to thought and action. Referring specially to temperance teaching .she said thrat the old idea had been to hold up a, warning to the young, but now it was agreed that the positive side of the question must be put before the growing youth of the community for at would be much more lasting and instructive than the purely negative.- She .said there was a distinct revulsion from the olcl idea of the presentation of the awful effects of drunkenness. They must teach the young people the wonder of their physical “machine” and. the need to keep that at -its highest standard oi efficiently, 'they must, too, lay stress on the ideals at which youth must aim and show them the danger of losing those ideals. And to do this, -she added, teachers must get a point of contact with the mind of the young people. If, for instance, they told them of the wonders of their body, a vital contact was at once established. Referring generally to modern methods iii education Miss MoCorkindalle said the aim should be a preparation for citizen,ship so that the young people might be enabled to take their place in the life of the nation. They must he instructed in correct thinking and have their minds developed allong that line. Youth demanded a reason for any statement made and that reason must be given if they were to be convinced. No teacher must deliver facts for the young mind would accept, tlhem and follow them tx> -a logjicMil tff3ui.olusi.an. She urged again the need of telling the children, the marvels of the "body and of the brain and how the use of alcohol interfered with their working. She gave a very interesting description of the action ol the red and white corpuscles in the blood and the use of the arteries and the veins. She referred to the great work done .for mankind by scientific men such as Metelnwkoff and Dr. Grenfell, of Labrador, and urged her hearers to- read the life work of those great men. , x , In conclusion she said that people must develop, self-criticism, sound judgment, and moral sense and .sellcon trail and so he able to give the best in body, brain and soul to their chosen profession, to the country and to God.