CHANGES IN EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20621, 21 July 1930, Page 10

CHANGES IN EDUCATION.

PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE. THE EARLIER TERMINATION. REASONS OF COMMITTEE. SECONDARY SYSTEM CRITICISED. The fact thnfc since tlio enactment of tho Education Act, 1914, tliero has been no fundamental change in tho organisation of the New Zealand education system is placed nt tho forefront of tho revolutionary report prepared for Parliament by tho Recess Education Committee.

In other parts of tho Empire, in tho United States and in Europo, important developments have taken placo since tho Groat War with respect to types of schools and curricula, tho ago of transference from ono typo to another, and other matters; but New Zealand has been contont to see theso other States not only imitate, but improve upon her prewar enterprise. "It is confidently believed that 'tho reforms proposed in this report, if carried into effect, will onco more placo tho Dominion in tho forefront of educational achievement," states tho report.

Ono of tho most striking recommendations of tho committee provides for tho termination of the primary school courso at 11 plus, or after passing Standard IV. The committee found all tho authorities it consulted upon this matter in agreement upon it without exception. In this connection, the committed offers somo sharp criticism of the existing secondary schools, and tho effects of tho matriculation examination upon them. Tho Public Dazzled. "In tho secondary schools," it says, " to which tho free-place system gave increasing access to holders of the proficiency certificate, the splendour of the national endeavour to give tho benefits of free post-primary education to all children desirous and capable of proceeding thereto, so dazzled tho vision of tho public that it prevented them from realising tho barrenness of tho soil in which they had thus planted tho tree of higher knowledge. Tho rigidity and narrowness of tho 'proficiency-riddcn" primary system were repeated in tho secondary schools in a form, if possible, even more Procustean by reason of their no less complete subordination to the purely academic prescriptions of the external matriculation examination.

" This state of affairs, the separate organisation of tlie two stages under totally independent and differently constituted local boards, served but to confirm. Thus, even tlio rapid development of free secondary education was largely stultified in its effect; nor was any opening left by which an amelioration of the conditions or a readjustment of (ho point of articulation between the two stages might have been arranged." Tho report goes on to show that as a protest against this condition of affairs, tho technical-instruction movement began to be developed, again to a large extent in independence of the earlier organisations. Here the ideals of a living education found fertilo soil, out of which tho most valuable clement in our education system to-day lias grown. Consoquently a stage has now been reached in tho educational development of tho Dominion at which tho leaven of these two movements—tho manual training centres arid district high schools in the primary, and the technical high schools in tho post-primary system—has rendered tho fundamental reorganisation of the education system not only possible, Dut inevitable. Education and Life's Realities. The committee stresses that in theso schools, the psychological basis for the earlier introduction of subjects and courses of instruction closely related to life's realities is frankly realised, with the result that a deliberately increased emphasis is placed upon exploratory manual, domestic and agricultural courses as the means of revealing special aptitudes to which purely literary studies formerly denied an outlet. The ago at which theso studies wero originally introduced into the primary school system, approximately 11 plus, is definitely accepted as tho proper stage in the pupil's development at which these and other now and self-revealing interests and studies should j be commenced.

New Zealand's lagging behind in the application of this principlo is ascribed by tho committee (o tlif peculiar organisation of its education system under many different controlling authorities, which have hitherto not been able to agree upon any practicable method of giving effect to tho desired reform throughout tho Dominion.

In view of tho admittedly successful adoption of this principle of educational reorganisation in England, America and Australia, as well as of tho no less successful experimental schools of this type already conducted in New Zealand, and of tho consistent unanimity of expert opinion, both in New Zealand and overseas, the committee had no difficulty in reaching its conclusion in favour of terminating the primary school courso at 11 plus, or after Standard IV.

SCHOLARSHIPS AFFECTED. SOME HARDSHIP LIKELY. BOYS FROM HUMBLE HOMES. Reference to tho changes proposed in tho Education Committee's report was made by Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, headmaster of tho Auckland Grammar School, at tho annual reunion of old boys of tho school 011 Saturday evening. Mr. Mahon said that many boys of tho- school caino from humblo homes, and had been assisted financially by Government scholarships. It was now proposed to abolish the scholarships, and establish in their place a bursary fund, chiefly for tho benefit 01 country children. Whilo recognising the disabilities under which many country scholars laboured, ; Mr. Mahon said ho felt that a great injustice would be inflicted on a number of city boys coining from humble homes, if tho proposals came into effect.

GREATER EXPENDITURE. NEED URGED BY FARMERS. [BY TELEGItAPII.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL. Sunday. The proposed changes in tho education system, as suggested in tho report of tho commission recently presented to Parliament, were discussed at a meeting of tho Southland executive of the Farmers' ' Union yesterday. Tho following resolti- j tion was carried:—"That this meeting urges upon tho Government tho advisability of increasing expenditure on education, and asks iL to safeguard tho interests of tho smaller schools."