EDUCATIONAL CHANGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20619, 18 July 1930, Page 15

EDUCATIONAL CHANGES.

THE AGRICULTURAL BIAS.

DOUBTS REGARDING PROPOSAL. UNSUITED TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The need of caution in carrying out the declared intention to seek to impose an agricultural bins in the New Zealand schools is stressed by some prominent educationists in Auckland. They point out a danger that attempts at specialisation too early may weaken the foundations of the education which the schools aim to give for tho purpose of fitting children to play their subsequent parts in tho life of the community. Sir George Fowlds, chairman of tho Auckland University College Council and the Massev Agricultural College Council, said yesterday that while he was an enthusiast for agricultural education in every possible way he thought there would lie grave danger attached to an attempt to specialise in agriculture in the primary schools. The most that should be done was along the lines of nature ,&tudy and the encouragement of children to take an interest in country life and plant life. "I am sure it will only be a disadvantage for anything like specialised instruction to be given in the primary schools," Sir George added. "A good general equipment, in the three Il's if you like, is tho most and tho best that can bo done in that time." Other Changes Favoured. Tho provision of an intermediate stage between primary and secondary courses was among changes now proposed which Sir George thought to be overdue. Tho recommendation that tho leaving age should bo raised to 15 was in lino with enlightened opinion practically throughout the world. 110 thought he could also support the recommendations of the committee on tho important question of tho control of education, provided there was substantial freedom of action allowed to the unified boards proposed to be set up. Approval of the proposed changes in tho educational system, with reservations on some points, was expressed by Mr. 1. 11. Wells, a member of the Auckland Education Board and of the Massev Agricultural College Council. The raising of the school leaving age to 15 and the commencement of the post-primary course at 11 were steps with which he quite agreed. Mr. Wells said.

So far as tho agricultural bias was concerned, he thought that in the. primary schools no more than nature study and school gardening could be taught in that direction, although children of 14 and 15 might make a start in elementary agriculture. The object in the primary school should bo to lay a good general, broad foundation on which any superstructure could be built later. Factors in Administration.

More detailed information of the proposed administrative changes were desired before ho would enre to commit himself to a definite opinion as to their soundness. Consolidation of tho supeivision of tho several types of education so that only one body would have control in a given area would be a move in the right direction. So far as economy was concerned, continued Mr. Wells, it was a question whether the 18 boards, which it was proposed should replace 54 local educational bodies of various types and degrees of importance, would in tho aggregate cost less to administer than the existing bodies. He would like to know more about the powers of those boards; whether they were to bo only glorified committees or whether they were to have real responsibilities. The tendency to centralise everything in Wellington had been such that one was dubious about any new proposals. Education was far more centralised in New Zealand than in the United States of America and Canada, and probably England, but he should say not more than in Australia, where the States had developed centralisation to a considerable extent. "Many of us think that the. more local interest you can get in education the better," Air. Wells concluded.