SECONDARY EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18171, 17 August 1922, Page 9

SECONDARY EDUCATION.

DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. UNIFORM SYLLABUS NEEDED HIGHER GENERAL STANDARD The Jack of uniformity in the courses of work covered in the secondary departments of district high schools was commented on yesterday by tho senior inspector, Mr. C. W. Garrard, in submitting to tho Education Board & detailed course of instruction for the secondary departments. "Mr. Garrard said that for some time he had been keenly concerned with tho efficiency of the district high schools, in Auckland, for such schools afforded the only po;ssible means of secondary (education to a large number of children; indeed, to most of the children in country districts. The standard had been raised in recent years, and was still rising, but there was a serious lack of uniformity in the courses of work covered. This was largely due, not to want of enthusiasm or of energy on the teacher's part, but rather to tneir inexperience and their 1 need for direction and assistance. , One of the weak points in the district high' school curriculum was that no guidance was given as to the course of instruction to be followed in the majority of subjects,' so that standards varied considerably in every school. Tho syllabus drawn up was the first attempt made to secure co-ordination, and to lift the general standard of secondary department instruction. The courses were outlined in such a way as not to suppress, but rather to encourage the teacher's individuality, and suggestions were therefore made with regard to text books, for each subject, to suitable books for inclusion in school libraries for reference purposes, and to the cheapest way in which school books might be obtained. The suitable allocation of time for the subjects of instruction and to physical instruction was also dealt with in the syllabus. Mr. G. W. Itlurray paid a high tribute to the scheme of work submitted, which, ho said, was complete arid practical in every way, omitting nothing, and giving due'importance to every subject worthy of special attention. It was decided that tho course should be printed without delay and supplied to the schools. A suggestion that a copy should be forwarded to the department with a view to its general adoption throughout the Dominion was also adopted.