VALUE OF PRIZES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18279, 21 December 1922, Page 10

VALUE OF PRIZES.

DEFENCE OF THE SYSTEM.

"A STIMULUS TO LEARN."

PROFESSOR THOMAS' VIEWS.

The value of prizes in a system o J education was enlarged upon by Professor A. P. W. Thomas, who presided at the prize-giving ceremony of the Auckland Girls' Grammar Schools last evening.

Earlier in the year, said Professor Thomas, en intimation was received by the Board of Governors from the authorities at Wellington, suggesting that it would be unwise to spend money on prizes in the future. The board did not approve of the suggestion, and after consultation with the principals of the schools, decided to allot prizes this year, with a slight alteration in the system. It had been said that the prize system was unfair —that because a child 'had brains it was the custom to " call it up and givo it a pat on the back." It was quite true that prizes were often given to those who were not the most brilliant. It was steadiness and perseverance that counted more than cleverness.

The system had further been condemned on the ground that it was of advantage to some but not to others, as all wero not equally capable by nature. Nature, however, could not be cheated. She had rrfade no two children alike. It was commonly said that those who won prizes at school did not always carry off the trophies in after life. Like many things that found common favour, however, it was only a partial truth. Ho did not profess to say that the system of prize-giving was completely good, but it certainly gave some good results. It could be truly said that it raised the standard of education in the schools, offered a stimulus to learn, and provided a higher standard of knowledge. Tho Education Department objected apparently on the ground of expense, but the cost of providing prizes was something like Id on every £ spent on tho management of tho schools. Ho was confident the advantages obtained by tho use of prices far outweighed the small expense. Parents and others, moreover, liked giving prizes, and it was good for their souls. It also released school work from something of its drudgery.