PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13683, 26 February 1908, Page 8

PROGRESS OF EDUCATION.

NEW SOUTH WALES METHODS.

NEW ZKALAXDER'S IMPRESSIONS.

(BY TELEGRAPH "OWN CORRESWSOTS*.]

C«nistcßt?ncH. Tuesday. Two of the inspectors under the North Canterbury Board of Education. Me«*. Foster and Mulgan.-l»ve just com*, b«*. from a holiday visit to New South Wales and though they vent chiefly to pleasure tbev naturally looked into matters educational. Speaking to ? ■ P"f S M ntativ«, Mr. Mulgan said: "New Seat Wales has made considerable advance m ait departments of education during-, recent years, and an instance is afforded by the provision available.for the training of teachers The authorities brought out from Home Mr. Alex. Mackie, M.A.. of Edinburgh University, as principal, and purpose erecting « large and modern training college in the grounds of the university. At present the work of the college is earned on in one of the public schools. In kindergarten work also a substantial advance has been made. In several schools kindergarten departments are included, while a number of others are equipped with laboratories for the teaching of science. Special provision is made for giving boys who leave the primary schools a training winch will enable them to immediately appreciate the value of the teaching they receive at the Hawkesbury ; Agricultural College. The particular institution in which this preparatory process is accomplished is known as the Hurlstone Agricultural Continuation school. We have, nothing like, it here, but our Technical College Board of Governors contemplates making arrangements for the inauguration of some scheme-whereby the intermediate gap may be bridged. Mr. Foster and I had the privilege of being associated with the inspectors of the State at their annual conference. During the proceedings several papers were read by inspectors who had been asked by the Government to discuss different subjects of vital importance; Two papers on 'Child Life. in Mining Districts?,' and on 'Child Life in Dairying Districts' were given, and led to much interesting "debate. Ho far as the latter' problem is concerned it- appears that New South Wales is confronted with the same problem as New Zealand is faced with, arising from the desire on the part of some parents to make the most use of their children, thus sending them to school in an unfit and exhausted condition. A great deal of interest was manifested by New South Wales educational authorities in the New Zealand system of issuing leaving certificates to children on passing Standard VI. In New South Wales certificates of this character are unknown. A pupil passes,through all the classes in a primary school withoutbeing examined for promotion at any period of his career. I think there is a, necessity for the application by some independent , authority of reasonable tests to the finished products of any particular primary school. "There are three main divisions of schools. in New South Wales. First, the primary schools (in which pupils receive instruction as far as class 5); second, superior schools (where additional instruction in the higher branches of education may be given) : and, . third, the high school for boys and for girls. The first two institutions are free and compulsory, but'for the high schools a fee of £3 3s per quarter is charged. . While a great many pupils can, and do, obtain secondary education in the superior,schools, there is apparently no system of free education 'ill the secondary schools such as is enjoyed in New Zealand. The Fort-street (Sydney) Superior School contains approximately 2000 pupils, "of which about 750 are in- the secondary department. This establishment, which is doing primary and secondary work, is.managed and directed by the same headmaster, and splendid; results, are obtained. Among the features of the school worthy of mention are a school magazine, and an excellent debating society. ; Mr. Foster and I were present at the annual meeting. A boy acted as chairmai -., and he and the other boys showed a remarkable grip on business methods, and a capacity for public speaking wonderfully developed. We had an opportunity of inspecting the fine Technical College, at whose head is Mr. J. W. Turner. Attached to the Technical College is a splendid technological museum, containing not only exhibits of work, but : collections of natural products. . Sonic line original work is carried on at the museum, and we were especially struck with the val'ie of the work done in the matter of recovering valuable oils from the leaves of the eucalyptus and express pine. ' We spent a pleasant, day at Hawkesbury Agricultural College and Experimental Farm, and had the pleasure of. meeting Mr. H. N. Potts, the principal, and some of his able staff of teachers. The college has accommodation for 5200 resident pupils, which is always taxed to its utmost. The training, both practical and theoretically, is very full and valuable. A gratifying feature is the manner in which the work of the college is entering into the national life. As an example of this during the yearly recesses, when the students go to their homes, opportunity is given to the farmers to come to the college and profit by its instruction. This is eagerly availed of, and last year over" 100 farmers from all parts of the State went into residence at the college. Teachers from the Training College wishing to specialise in nature study or agriculture are sent to Hawkesbury Agricultural College. A summer school is also held there annually, extending over several weeks. This year about 100 teachers attended. Much of" the land [..bout the college is not of a very high quality, but the principal does not consider that this is a drawback, .holding (properly) that it is as well to instruct the students in what can be done with relatively poor land."