SCHOOL CURRICULA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 9

SCHOOL CURRICULA

EEFOIIMS ADVOCATED PROPOSALS IN ENGLAND CO-ORDINATION OF SUBJECTS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 21, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21 The Morning Post says revolutionary reforms in the preparatory school curricula which are calculated to affect the whole educational system are proposed in a report before the Preparatory Schools' Association. The essential points include the reduction of the number of subjects, the teaching of geography, history and English as a composite whole, greater emphasis upon arts and handicrafts, and the postponement of Latin and French until the ago of at least eleven. The report of a sub-committee consisting of principals and headmasters describes the accepted curricula as being designed for a scholar rather than for a normal boy, and also as boing inadequate as a preparation for life. It advocates tho co-ordination of subjects in order to illustrate and connect one with another.

The report adds that tho present curricula consist of too many unrelated subjects, introduced from time to time in order to meet the demand of public opinion. It expresses the opinion that examinations designed to test knowledge instead of intelligence are harmful, and suggests that scholarship examiners should seek boys with the creative instinct rather than potential university scholars.