Some Defects Sn School Cuŕiculum

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1948, Page 5

Some Defects Sn School Cuŕiculum

AUCKLAND. Thu. (Sp.).-“Although the new curriculum is a distinct improvement for the pupil of average intelligence. it is now impossible, owing to compulsory core, for a pupil to taxe two languages as well as mathematics,, science, history and geography.” The headmistress of the Auckland Girls’ Grammar School (Miss R. I. Gardner) expressed this opinion at the annual prize-giving ceremony of the school. “For the academically bright pupil the new curriculum is not an improvement,” she said. Discussing the more general issues connected with school life Miss Gardner said that it was becoming increasingly clear that parents must be prepared to send their daughters to postprimary school for at least three years to give them anything approaching an adequate education. “The material we have to work on is as fine as it ever was, continued Miss Gardner, “but the gayer life, the lure of the radio, cinema, skating rink and the week-end jaunt, the sometimes excessive home duties, the laxer home discipline, the insecurity of economic and national life have taken their toll. “When there is little harmony in the home, no sympathetic but _ firm discipline, no enjoyment of simple pleasures, no real family unity, it is useless to expect the child to settle down quietly at school and acqttiie