STUDY BY TEACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 10

STUDY BY TEACHERS.

SCHOOL DURING VACATION.

SPREAD OF THE MOVEMENT*

WIDE BENEFITS SECURED.

The development and activities of the New Zealand summer school movement are described in an attractive pamphlet which has been issued in conjunction with the current Education Gazette. Special reference is made to the next session of the school, which will be held ir. New Plymouth from January 13 to 22, 1930. The pamphlet has been issued through the courtesy of tha Education Department, and in a foreword the Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, states that he regards the vacation school as one of tho most potent agencies for improving an education system. Mr. Strong adds: " The vacation school, by the opportunity it affords teachers to mix with those who have inspiration to give and with somo who are feeling • just as sorely the need for clearer educational insight and a renewal of educational vigour, uplifts and gives a fresh vision to the jaded teacher. " Vacation schools have for many years been well attended in England and America, particularly in the latter country, where apparently teachers keenly realise the importance of keeping abreast of tho times. In New Zealand vacation schools are not a new idea and many have been very well attended. 1 have been glad to learn of the success attending the New Zealand Teachers' Summer School organisation and I wish the 1950 veuturo every success." Growth of the ischools.

A brief history of thu growth of the schools, which are attended annually by teachers from all parts of New Zealand, is given. The movement was duo primarily to the enthusiasm of. Professor James Shelley, of Canterbury College, who was associated with such movements in England, where, in conjunction with Professor Findlay, he directed several important schools. He applied the principle to the Workers' Educational Association in Christchurch, holding at Oxford in 1921 the first iummer school in New Zealand.

It was not until 1923 that the principle of summer schools came under the notice of the teaching profession. One of the students at Professor Shelley's Workers' Educational School at Little River was a teacher, who returned to his province, Southland, convinced that the movement would be of immense value if applied to the teaching profession. In 1923 the Southland Educational Institute decided to hold the'first teachers' summer school at Riverton, about 25 miles from lnvercargill. Mr. John Caughley, then Director of Education, agreed to donate £IOO toward the expenses of the school. The first school was a success, about 150 teachers attending. Southland continued to hold the schools on a provincial basis for a number of years, while the movement was further extended by the organisation in Auckland of a provincial summer school, the first annual session being held at Cambridge in 1926. The northern venture owes a great deal to Mr. D. M. Rae, the new principal of the Auckland Training College, who was the organiser of the original Southland School. The school id the North has widened its activities considerably, Mr. Frank Milner, principal of the Waitaki Boys' High School having been elected to the office of president. Vice-regal interest has been shown in. the movement, Sir Charles Fergusson, in the office of patron, having opened the school on the last three occasions at Cambridge, Nelson and Oamaru. Variety of Lectures. It has been the aim of the school to study educational problems on a high plane, believing that if teachers could-be brought into touch with men and women of vision they would return to their schools with a new ideal and purpose toward education. The school has insisted on. excluding matters of classroom procedure from its curriculum. Residents of the district where the schools have been held have been invited to attend, and thus interest in, education has been fostered. As well as lectures by leadi'ng educationists addresses have been given by men prominent in business.

Ihe lecturers to address the school in New Plymouth next, year will include men and women recognised as authorities in their particular subject. English literature and modern drama will be dealt with by Miss H. M. King, principal of the Otago Girls' High School. Professor T. D. .Adams, professor of classics at the Otago University, will speak on "Tho Legacy of Greece to Mankind." Nature lore in New Zealand and its poetry will be the subject of an address by Mr. j. C. Anderson, librarian at the Turnbuli Library, Wellington. Mr. E. D. Taylor, supervisor of music in schools, will speak on musical matters. "A Trip to the East" is the subject of an address to be riven by Dr. P. Marshall, of TaranakL In ad. dition to these business men, bankers and statesmen have been invited to visit the school and give addresses. Study of Maori Race. A special feature of the New Plymouth school will be the study to be given te questions affecting the Maori race and its welfare. The whole field of the relationship of the school to the welfare of the Maori people will bo considered, and the judgments reached will bo organised and edited by Professor A. B. Fitt, dean of the faculty of education at the Auckland University College. Lecturers associated with Dr. Fitt will be Mr. W. H. Skinner, ot New Plymouth. Mr. N. R. McKenzia and Mr. P. Smythe. Tb« Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, will also contribute to the discussion. It is also hoped to induce Maori leaders to cooperate in the study. It has been the aim of the executive committee of the movement to arrange that each summer school should be"visited by at least one eminent thinker from abroad. It is expected that Dr. Hawkling Yen, a Chinese member of the research staff of the Institute of Pacific Relations, Honolulu, will be available this year, and will lecturo at the school.