A GREAT EDUCATIONAL CHANGE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9356, 27 April 1893, Page 4

A GREAT EDUCATIONAL CHANGE.

Sin,— At the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay brauch of the New Zealand Educational Institute the chairman alluded to a matter which be said was very important. It bad also been discussed at) the meeting of the Educational Institute in Wellington. Since it is of great interest to all who desire improvement in our educational system, I would ask, through the medium of your pages, that someone who understands the subject should give the pnblic a clearer view of it than could be obtained from the brief remarks of the chairman of the institute. The matter to which I allude is freedom of classification in the public schools, and of its importance soaie thing may be gathered from the fact that the chairman of the institute characterised it as " revolution' ary." He stated that it had been adopted in England with most beneficial results. The chief points seem to be that "pass " nad "fall in standards is. abolished, and that the person who has taught the child during tbe year ia allowed greater discretion than with us as to its fitness for presentation for examination.' I regret to see that the Educational Institute received the matter somewhat coldly. Oliver Wendell Holmes remarks that when a log that has lain long on the ground is lifted there is a great stir among the small fry that have sheltered in a semi-torpid state v under it. Can this have aoy thing to. do t • with the coldness alluded to?— 1 am, &c, '■ Progress. ' April 26, 1893J