"TOO MUCH SPORT."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1844, 19 June 1920, Page 5

"TOO MUCH SPORT."

IS SCHOOL LIFE PROLONGED?

A SPEEDING-UP SUGGESTED,

Tentative suggestions for a general "speeding-up" in the promotion of primary school children from one class to another with a view to their graduation to the secondary schools at an earlier age than at present obtains were made by the Director of Education (Dr. W. J. Anderson) in the course of his opening address at this week's sitting of the Council of Education. He pointed out that he was firmly convinced that they ought to get, the children earlier through the primary school coirrse than they did at present. The average ago at which the children of the Dominion left the primary schools, and the average age. at which they entered the secondary schools were both too high. By the udoption of certain devicei to hasten promotion if they cpuld bring the average age which a child graduated fromthe primary school down to 12 years and six months, the educational _ authorities would bo doing a very good thing indeed. There were, however, certain problems in the process of administration and promotion that would have to be considered before they could get the ago limit down to what he considered it should be. In England six years and nine months was the average age at which the children entered the First Standard. Our children did not do anything like that. In passing, the Director-General said that he was perfectly aware that the age test was an uncertain test, but it applied in general averages. He then went on to point out that correspondingly the children " passed out of the English schools something earlier than here." DOUBLE-PROMOTION SCHEME.

In the adoption of any methods to lower the age at which children passed out of the primary schools, Dr. Anderson said he would prefer a double scheme of promotion ratlfor than the establishment of backward classes. Under a double scheme of promotion the brighter children would be enabled to pass from one standard to another in, say, six months, and the others in twelve months. More careful attention to the attendance of children might also do something to accomplish the ideal he had outlined. It might be, too, that New Zealand children had not acquired the same habit for school work as that possessed by children under less favourable conditions in the Old Country. " Maybe," he added, " there is too much pleasure, too much'

port, and too many holidays. At all events he problem requires examination. Above ill, one thing that we can do in the organiation of our education is the dutv of cut-

ting down the numbers of children in tho classes to each teacher, and correspondingly the elevation in the position of the teacher, so that by raising his status we can get a much better class of people generally in the profession. That is the crux. In these' two ways more than any other way you will get the children properly educated and : a reasonable primary course finished and completed at a reasonable age."