EXCHANGE TEACHER

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4651, 31 January 1935, Page 6

EXCHANGE TEACHER

EXPERIENCE IN LONDON.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION. During his trip abroad valuable experience has been gained by Mr. M. S. Pitkowsky, a New Zealand teacher, who, after haying taught in London County Council schools and seen a little of the world, returned to Wellington by the Manuganui. Mr. Pitkowsky left the Dominion about two years ago under the teachers’ exchange system, and while in London he visited 45 different schools. Before his departure he was first assistant at the Upper Hutt School, and he will he returning to that school. Tremendous emphasis was placed upon the technical and manual side of education in the London County Council schools, said Mr. Pitskowsky in an interview.' The reaso'n for that was that every endeavour was made to enable pupils to develop natural ability. They were not “flogged into” securing a leaving certificate; indeed, there was no leaving certificate equivalent to the New Zealand proficiency certificate. A feature of the London County Council schools was the rise of the school journey system. Every school took a fortnight out of school time for a trip to the seaside or some other selected place. The children met most of the cost, but sometimes, in the case of poor children, the L.C.C. provided the funds. In his opinion that was one of the best features of the schools. Such journeys were of valuable educational benefit to the children. Keen attention was paid to the physical development of the children, said Mr. Pitkowsky. Although he was an old Rugby player, he believed that Association fotoball was more suitable for primary school children. Swimming was an important item of every school curriculum. Baths were provided by the local authorities, and also the means of getting to them. Provision was made by the L.C.C. for children of all kinds. For example, there were special provision for anaemic children. Visit to Palestine. Mr. Pitkowsky spent four months in Palestine, and he said that both there and in England New Zealand’s name stood high. A great deal of that was due to the fine impression created by the New Zealand soldiers during the war. Palestine was easily the most prosperous country, in the world to-day. Modern Hebrew was the language spoken there. A tremendous amount of building and-de-velopment were going on, and as a result of the Nazi regime in Germanyand anti-Semitism there had been a tremendous influx of migrants during the past two years. Britain seemed to be particularly successful in regard to her management of Palestine. The Arabs were benefiting considerably. In TranSjordania they were starving, but in Palestine there was plenty of work for them. New. Zealand products were not in evidence in Palestine as were some from Australia, but he

thought that if prices were right and there was efficient management there should be a good market for them.

Mr. Pitkowsky said that a number of New Zealanders were studying in London. Apart from the medical courses, for those studying law and teaching a considerable benefit wa6 to be obtained. There were opportunities for development which could not be obtained in New Zealand.

Paris "was among other places visited by Mr. Pitokwsky. He was there last April, and he said that the city seemed full of . troops. A thousand Communists were arrested at one demohstration.

Mr. Pitkowsky Js a son of the late Rev; C; Pitkowsky, who was the Jewish Rabbi at Wellington.