MODERN TEACHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 13

MODERN TEACHING

NEW IDEALS FOLLOWED EMPHASIS ON HEALTH USEFUL WORK AND LEISURE A HEADMASTER'S COMMENT Changes in educational methods during the past half century were described by Mr. H. ,1. D. Malum, retiring headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, at a complimentary dinner tendered to him by old boys of the school on Saturday evening. Education, he said, had made very great advances since his school days. The old idea was that the basis of education was the three r's. " The basis has changed; it has advanced since then," said Mr. Mahon. " We realise that education means the harmonious development of the many sides of the pupil's being—physical, manual, mental, aesthetic, spiritual and the cultivation of hobbies that will enable him to fill in his leisure hours pleasantly and profitably. " One great educator, Dr. Cyril Norwood, who lately retired from tho headmastership of Harrow, says that the three r's now have been replaced by the three h's—health, handiness and harmony, lio did not go on to elaborate this, but you will notice that ho |iuts health in tho forefront of the requirements of modern education. 1 think you will realise how much is being done in the Continental countries to cultivate the physique and the health of the rising generation, for every educator realises that unless there is a healthy and robust constitution it is impossible to get the best mental work out of a, boy or of a man.

And then harmony, handiness. He implies by that that the hands must be trained as well as the head, and the boy given a strong physical basis for his subsequent work in life. And harmony includes not only music but tho harmonious development of all those phases of tho boy s being—his mind, his body, his soul, his sense of beautv.

" That is the great task that is set before the educator of tho present day, and the object is to enable the pupils to enjoy, not only their work, but also their leisure, to make them healthy, good and intelligent citizens; for the permanence of the democratic state depends upon the average of its members. And in order that they may efficiently carry out their duties as citizens they must be trained to exercise calm and deliberate judgment in all things, and thus acquire the power to distinguish in public affairs the genuine from the spurious. " I think you realise from these words how great and how important is the duty of the educator and how difficult it is for us to fulfil our ideals. The older we get the more we arc conscious of our shortcomings for this tremendous work, the work of training the plastic minds, souls, spirits and personalities of the delightful boys that are placed in our charge."