P-TO-DATE TEACHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12410, 4 November 1903, Page 7

P-TO-DATE TEACHING.

TO THE EBITOB. Sir,—!, have read with much interest your own correspondent's report of yout Christclmvch contemporary's interview with several of the headmasters of the State schools with regard : to the use of the newspaper as a means of school education, and you, able contributor, " Tohiuijra," is to be congratulated on being the means of exciting an interest in this most important subject. I have. for the past five years, daring' an 18 years' experience in the conduct of a commercial college, which I have striven to conduct on up-to-date lines, made the newspaper lesson a feature in my teaching, with the most satisfactory results. Without going the length of Mr. T. S. Foster, who pays that every teacher who is worth his salt makes use of the newspaper as a means of instruction, my experience has taught me that no better means can be found—at least, I have not been able to find any—to sharpen up the 'pupil and keep him in touch with current events, thus enabling him to hold his own in tho battle of life before him: and more particularly is this the case should the boy's education be directed to fitting him for a commercial career. While, however, recognising the; "value "of instruction in 'contemporary events, and agreeing with the principal of the training college for teachers in Ohristchurch, as reported by your correspondent, I go further than he does and assert that it is "absolutely impossible to impart an intelligent notion of 'the meaning of those events unless the pupil is thoroughly grounded in ;he various branches of a sound English education.l am, etc.. T. Hahle Giles.