The New Education

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 96, 1 April 1922, Page 2

The New Education

.RECONSTRUCTING THE SYSTEM. EXPERTS CONFERRING IN WELLINGTON. POST-PRIMARY COURSES. The reconstruction of New Zealand 's education system is being considered by a conference of experts in Wellington. The conference was summoned by the Minister of Education in order that he might have advice concerning his proposals for curtailing the primary course and establishing junior high schools as a link between the primary system end the secondary system. Wellington, March 31. The delegates to the conference include the chief officers of the Education Department and a number of the Dominion’s most prominent teachers in various branches. The Director of Education (Mr J. Caughley) took the chair when the proceedings commenced yesterday. Tho Minister of Education (Mr Parr) was present, and he stated the objects of the gathering in the course of a preliminary speech. The main features of the scheme, which is based largely upon the, experience of other countries, were stated by the Minister some time. ago. It is proposed that th« primary course shall carry tho children to an educational standard equivalent to standard 4 or 5, and shall be completed by the time the children reach the age of twelve or thirteen years. The elementary work will be simplified in some respects in order that the children may finish the course quickly. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. Thon will come a three years’ course in a junior high school, the work corresponding roughly to that done, in the upper standards of the present primary schools and during the first year of attendance in the secondary schools. The natural capabilities of the children will be studied in the junior high schools and the practical side of the work will be developed.

The junior high school course will carry the children to their fifteenth or sixteenth years. Parliament has sanctioned the extension of tho compulsory- school attendance rule from the fourteen year to tho fifteenth year. From the junior high schools the children will be drafted to the secondary high schools and the technical schools. Some of them may .go to work, and for them continuation classes will be provided. The policy of the Department will be to make the secondary or technical course vocational in character. Any special aptitude that a boy or girl may have shown will be developed. Parents 'may- be asked to assist by indicating what line of work they expect children to follow. A GRADUAL CHANGE. When opening the conference yesterday the Minister of Education said that the reforms he w-as asking the experts to consider had got past the stage of academic discussion. It was the settled conviction of educationalists that the changes he had in view should he brought about gradually. He had called the conference because he desired to get advice on various practical points, such as the subjects to be taught, the staffing arrangements, and the utilisation of existing buildings. He outlined the scheme that he had in mind, and said that the proposed to make a beginning in the main centres, and to adapt most of the rural district high schools to the new curriculum. He would like advice as to the programme of studies in both the elementary schools and tho junior or intermediate high schools. He thought that New Zealand should not follow slavishly the systems and methods of other countries, but should .rather endeavour to mould institutions suited to the peculiar requirements of the people of the Dominion. During tho day the conference heard the views of Mr Caughley (Director of Education), Mr La Trobo (Director of Technical Education, Mr F. Milner (head of the Waitaki High School), Mr T. U. Wells (New Zealand delegate to the Toronto Education Conference), Mr W. H. Howell (director of the Wellington Technical School), and Miss Gibson (head of the Christchurch Girls’ High School). The conference will meet again this morning.