OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14292, 11 February 1910, Page 6

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS.

CO-ORDINATION OF WORK.

THE SYLLABUS REVIEWED.

[nr TELEGRAPH.rRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Thursday. A CONTBRHNGK of educational exports was opened in the Legislative Council Chamber to-day. The conference is the most representative gathering of its kind which has taken place in this country. The InspectorGeneral of Schools (Mr. G. Hogben) presided.

Tho Minister for Education (Hon. Geo. Fowlds), in welcoming tho delegates, said that education in the Dominion had now reached a point at which it. became absolutely necossary to review tho work of the various stages in relation to each other, and to the general wants of the community. The primary object was tho co-ordination of parts in such a way that each would perve its own special purpose, leaving nothing undone that ought to be done, and doing nothing superfluous in the overlapping of facilities, and the consequent duplication of cost without corresponding benefit to the paving public. "It is my duty," said Mr. Fowlds, "to see that- in meeting these wants all economic waste is avoided. Unfortunately, questions of education, like other matters, cannot be separated from the question of money, and while I shall always do my best to secure adequate monetary provision for all legitimate needs, I must at the same time show that none of tho money provided is wasted, that the public get not only • good value for that money in tho quality of ■ the education given, but that, good results cannot bo obtained with less." IDEAL OF SOCIAL EFFICIENCY. The Inspector-General then addressed the Conference. The ideal that appealed to him, he said, was that of social efficiency. He held that) if they- properly connected education with the life of the community they would thereby co-ordinate the several parts of tho education system in the most effective manner. They must, of course, take as wide a-view as possible of the life of the community, and must have regard to the various functions performed by the different members of the Slate. They should train the individual for his proper work. The work of tho primary schools would have to be considered a system of training which was shared by all children! They had to consider its: (1) subject matter, (2) its syllabus, (3) how long it should take for the average child. (4) how long it should take for the clever child, (5) were there any methods by which the work could be made, better or easier, and (6) what was its relation to the next stage — secondary education. Mr. Hogben went on to say that one subject which the Conference might discuss was the average age at which the primary stage of education might be completed. Ho was of opinion that what was now reached at 13 and 14 years of age was reached in other countries at 12 and 13 years of age.

THE SYLLABUS. . Mr. Petrie inspector at Auckland) stated that since, 1874 there had been -continuous advancement. He . considered the better schools were not onlv equal to the better schools of Australia, tut better than the same class of schools in Great Britain. Ho considered that the school hours for the three higher classes at least should be "extended. In Germany six and seven was a common thing. Professor Gilray (Dunedin) said he thought sufficient attention was not given to . English. Ho would like to sj»o_a real love for language and literature instilled in the child. At present many children when they left school read very little. Mr. G. George (director Auckland Technical School) said that the infant schools were much below those in America and elsewhere. He would like to sea the teaching of girls after They passed the , fourth . standard directed more towards the domestic side. Many pupils left school as soon is they passed the compulsory age and drifted into occupations which held out' every little hope. This problem in America had led to the establishment of vocational school*. Since he took charge of the technical school in Auckland, seven years ago, the English, both in language and written expression, had improved. , Mr. H. G. Cousins (Auckland primary) moved, "That the syllabus of work for primary schools is based on sound principles and is generally well adapted to the needs of the pupils." Tho mover said too much was expected in arithmetic, in which we were endeavouring to outstrip America and other countries. The motion was 'carried. PLEA FOR THE BIBLE. j Mr. C. E. Bevan Brown (Christchurch) declared it a pity the Bible, that great Book of literature which Huxley had declared to be the primer of morals, was excluded from the purview of our youth. Boys and girls in the country were in danger" of growing up without the humanising influence of that great Book and its noble stories. Mr. D. S. Strachah (inspector, Marlborough) moved, That a. committee representing each section of the Conference, with the inspector-general as chairman, go into the question of subjects suitable for the primary school system arid tho length of time to be devoted to it, and that the committee bo given 12 months in which. to obtain information from the countries most advanced in education." The motion was lost on the voices.

The relationship of the primary to secondary and technical schools, was then discussed. ' The subject was introduced by Mr. Hogben (inspector-general), - who said a, large proportion of the secondary school pupils consisted of free-place pupils, scholar-' ship holders, and proficiency certificate holders. - It- was admitted that a certain proportion of the lastnamed were unfitted for secondary education, and there had been a suggestion that they should be barred. Mr. W. Gray (Wellington Training College) said that a rampant ivil in secondary schools was the irregular period of training. A guarantee should be given by parents that the children should be kept in school' for a minimum time.

Mr. Vernon protested against an attempt to close the doors of secondary schools to many New Zealand children. The debate was adjourned.