IMPROVING EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16502, 30 March 1917, Page 6

IMPROVING EDUCATION

PRIMARY SCHOOL SYLLA3US.

INSPECTORIAL WORK.

The Minister for Education, the Hon. J. A. Hanan, stated at his interview last Wednesday with the Education Board that lie had, for various reasons, come to the conclusion that the primary school syllabus and the regulations governing the inspection and examination of schools should be remodelled so as to provide for greater simplicity in the syllabus . itself, for greater emphasis on more important aspects of education, and for such an arrangement of the syllabus as would enable inexperienced teachers in particular to carry out the scheme of instruction with greater effectiveness. Asked yesterday the nature of the proposed amendments, Mr. Hanan said that with regard to the inspection and examination of schools, he considered it necessary that inspectors should to a greater degree than hitherto take an active and responsible part in devising and illustrating methods for the 'improvement of primary education. To that end he had already arranged that in most cases an inspector shall have the supervision tf a definite area and of certain specified schools in order that ho may more closely co-operate with the teachers and be of greater assistance than was possible hitherto to the smaller schools and the less experienced teachers. It had been found inadvisable, at this stage of the school year, to recast entirely the whole of the syllabus and regulations for inspection, since this would unduly disarrange the normal procedure for the year which had already been carried through its initial stages. The complete remodelling of the syllabus of the system of inspection was well in hand, and the result would bo ready for publication pro- i bably in October, so that inspectors, teachers, and others concerned in this matter- might discuss and become fully conversant with the complete scheme this year, in ample time to make any adjustments necessary for the work of the year 1918. In the meantime, there was being issued in this week's Gazette a number of. amendments to the present regulations, the alteration of which would not, in any way, disturb the work for this year as already entered upon. The Principal Alterations. " The chief alterations," said Mr. Hanan, _" provido for greater emphasis being laid on such essential matters as accuracy , of, speech, intelligent reading, accuracy in arithmetic, and & sound knowledge of history, nature study, and geography. Special provision is "being made tor more definite teaching of as much grammar as is required to secure an intelligent comprehension of the structuro of the sentences which children read, speak, or write. The,treatment of spelling will be placed on a more rational basis depend, ing on th? class of words which children require to use in writing. Provision is being made for special training to secure correct pronunciation in the proper treatment of vowel sounds. In the teaching of history, special emphasis will be laid on the close relationship of tho teaching of history and civics to the development of character, the fostering of senso of service, . and the encouragement of the growth of those virtues which make for good citizenship." The Minister said it would give satisfaction to many to know that provision was also being made for necessary concessions to girls in order to enable them ( to devote more _ attention to needlework and domestic science. Teachers who desired to be regarded as efficient were being enjoined to pay special attention to the physical well-being of the children, and to take an active part in their physical training in co-operation with the medical inspectors, school nurses, and physical instructors. Attention to Smaller Schools, With regard to tho inspection of schools it was provided that more time should ba devoted to the smaller scllools and to the less-experienced teachers, and that as far as possible, the inspector's first 'visit ) in tho year should be made the more important one, so that practical help might be given to teachers where necessary to set .out the work for tho year in a profitable manner. Inspectors" would also be required, not only to indicate defects, but to take an active part in devising and illustrating means for their removal. ,In view of the number of pupil teachers and probationers who failed to'secure even partial certificate before tho completion ' of their training, the alterations directed I that in cases where a pupil teacher or probationer does not show a satisfactory advance in his examination status during his period of training, an explanation of .such failure shall bo required of tho head teacher. Concluding, the Minister said that, it was expected that the amendments would have the effect of directing increased at- ; tention to some of the weak parts of the ! New Zealand education system, and that they woijld serve as an introduction to the wider changes which might result from the complete remodelling of the wholo syllabus.