SECONDARY EDUCATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 February 1933, Page 7

SECONDARY EDUCATION

DEMERITS OF MATRICULATON A protest against the domination ef secondary education in Britain by the requirements of university matriculation was made at flic annual meeting of the Headmasters’ Conference. Dr. C. Norwood, headmaster of Harrow, said it was beyond question that, owing to the business world's view, there was relentless pressure on school children to secure a matriculation certificate, if in any wav it was possible, because it was the condition of getting a job and a- start :n life. This was responsible for overpressure of tlic less able candidates and for methods of cramming in the teaching ; and it was responsible also for driving very considerable numbers through a course for which tlicv were not suited

and from which they derived little benefit. He wanted English so taught that boys could speak and write clearly; his tory and geography so taught that thev could understand this present Europe and the world: a less ambitious bit 1 more accurate mahtcniatics; a less formal hut move general science; a knowledge of French bv 'which hoys could speak a little and understand a good deal. He wanted this to lead on to a further course which should he slill a general education, so designed that it would give to the business world a supply of attainments in their recruits worth waiting for, which was not. the case with many of the products of their advanced courses at present. At present the school certificate with its matriculation requirement was clamped to secondary education like a band of iron, stopping experiment whether in the curriculum or in method, and turning out masses of boys and girls who, through the unsuitability of Ihe machine, had had their intellectual interests deadened.