Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1889. SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8335, 11 April 1889, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1889. SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS.

This is an age of evolution at higli pres^ sure. Normal or natural development is not fast enough for us in the nineteenth century, and we seek to force everything, f from a plant to the brain of a boy or girl at school. Whether this is altogether wise v open to discussion, but it is not our intention to enter a controversial field, and we are content, for present purposes, to accept the fact as it exists. Among other things sought to be developed at an abnormal rate of progress is the New Zealand elementary school system, Every year the standard of requirements is raised, and if teachers mean to hold their own they must progress also. The mere possession of certificates, even of the highest class, will not save a teacher from professional wreck if he does not keep abreast with the times. There is a growing tendency to still further load the already over- burdened syllabus, and whether they approve it or not teachers must endeavor to meet the new requirements. Not long ago drawing was taught only in a few schools here and there Then it was made a " class " subject — that is to say, the pupils need not puss in drawing to secure a standard pass, though marks for proiiciency in that branch of study were allowed. Now, drawing is a " pass " subject for certain standards and must be taught in all schools, and every year the requirements of tbe department will become more rigid, until drawing will be as necessury to secure a pass as arithmetic or reading. When the fiat as to drawing went fortb the Hawke's Bay Education Board did its best to secure for teachers the necessary opportunities for study, and Mr .Blair's classes have had very sub- I stantial results in tbe work done in the | schools. Now elementary science has ! been added to the list ot " Glass " subjects, and it is almost certain that two or three years more will see it mado 'a "pass" subject. It therefore behoves I teachers to prepare themselves for what is coming,- as well as for what is now required of them. The Education Board, working in conjunction .with Mr F. D. fergusson, of the Makatoku school, who is specially qualified to undertake the task, have provided teachers with the opportunity for the necessary study. Next Saturday a course of weekly lectures will be commenced in Napier, and the Board has made arrangements which will enable nearly every teacher in the district to attend. In the larger education districts teachers have the opportunity of attending classeS on science and other subjects attheuniversity colleges, but they do so at their own expense, paying the cost of travelling' between the country districts where they are stationed and the town in which the classes are held. Here we find the Board not only voting a sum of money to defray the necessary cost of apparatus for carrying on the classes successfully, but also paying tbe travelling expenses' of the country teachers ; and for a moderate 4 9Um in class fees tbe teachers may qualify

themselves in the subjects tau»ht. In passing the examination for a teacher's certificate all candidates have to satisfy the department that they have a good knowledge of elementary experimental science, and to encourage teachers to qualify themselves iv it the 'department offer annaally prizes to the three best candidates in that branch ot knowledge, Again, elementary science being now ft "class" subject in our schools, nil children having to pass an examination in it in class, our teachers ought to be well up in the subject, ft is, however, a well-known fact that the teaching of elementary science in out primary schools is not in a satisaetory state, for it does not follow that, because a teacher has passed a written " book-work " examination in science, he : is able to teach that subject experimentally and intelligently to the standard pupils under his charge. It is to meet bese difficulties that the science lectures have been established by the Board of Education, and the syllabus which has been issued sets forth that the dbject in view is both to prepare candidates for examination in science and to put the teachers in the way of teaching that subject intelligently and by experiment to (heir own classes. The lecturer, Mr Fergusson, is thoroughly qualified to undertake the work in hand, having been an exhibitioner of chemistry at Owen's College, Manchester, where he studied chemistry and physics under Professors . Roscoe and Balfour Stewart, and having had several years' experience in teaching experimental science botli in England and in this colony. We congratulate the Board on what is evidently an important step in the educational progress of the district, and we hope to see these science classes well patronised, not only by all the teachers within reach of Napier and by candidates for examination in science, but also by those engaged in any ofthe thousand and one industrial occupations in which a knowledge of elementary science is not merely an advantage but almost a necessity.