EDUCATION REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17471, 15 May 1920, Page 6

EDUCATION REFORM.

The new Minister for Education has already given evidence that he is bringing to bear on the problems of his Department the vital qualities of sympathy and .enthusiasm. His proposals for the recasting of the syllabus arc in" themselves epochmaking and are a basis on which teachers and parents may usefully discuss the whole technique of education. Mr., Parr's suggestion, briefly f put, is . that the primary course should be so condensed as to terminate at the age of 12 years, and that, pupils should then pass through a finishing stage of secondary education, 11, either in special schools, or— districts too sparsely populated to '% support special institutions—in v the primary schools themselves. ■ It is to bj presumed from Mr. Parr's remarks that he , contemplates no interference with •.• the - functions > of J \ existing secondary schools, ,- the ' only change in • their \ routine being the entrance of pupils at a somewhat earlier age. The intermediary schools are designed for those who would not otherwise enjoy the benefits of secondary institutions, and it may be inferred that these . institutions would, as far as practicable, follow the recognised , organisation of secondary schools, and afford specialised training calculated to lay the foundations of a liberal education. Mr. Parr's proposals represent an effort to improve* the education of the masses, . and X for that reason they \ must claim • the j sympathetic, consideration of . all. In detail they invite criticism, but in fairness to a Minister who advances so high' an ideal the criticism' should be constructive as well as i, destructive. Such tendencies as the lowering of tho age ; ; at 1 which children pass to ' secondary schools • are observable in Auckland, as elsewhere, and in proposing to prune the primary f course Mr. Parr .is not without good authority. • The question that will most readily rise in the minds of parents is whether t v tho net result may. not be to speed up a pace which is already' injurious ;, to tho less 'robust children. ■; Oh this and other , aspects of tho scheme there will be '< many opinions, and all should be ■' expressed. * " *' ' ■ ,