LEARNING AT SECOND-HAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22733, 20 May 1937, Page 10

LEARNING AT SECOND-HAND

Sir Richard Paget's suggestion that under the perfect system of education book-reading woidd not begin until children were 12 years old, is not really so revolutionary as it sounds, says the Listener. It is the obverse side of a complaint frequently heard on educational platforms, that the grown-up population is content to take far too much of its information, tastes and opinions at second-hand a social malady which surely traces its origin back to wrong methods of instruction in the class-room. Sir Richard suggested that books and lectures ought to be postponed until tho child had been educated at first-hand, and pointed out how many of the greatest and most original minds had lacked book-learn-ing. The attempt to force knowledge on children through reading at an early age may result in a considerable number of cases in stunting the faculty of direct observation of life. Tho powers of noticing, watching, analysing and synthesising by eye, the powers of listening and assimilating by ear, can easily be lost. Education by book-learn-ing also encourages the indifferent and lazy teacher to prefer a method of gentle 'cramming' by reading and dictation, to tho training of personality and intelligence through oral teaching. ROADSENSE FOR CHILDREN

Major C. V. Godfrey, Chief Constable of Salford, describes in a book, "Roadsense for Children," the methods that have been adopted to make his city safe for a child to live in. The story shows a continuous reduction in the number of deaths of children from road accidents; and by the end of last year the city could look back upon a period of a year and nine days without a single fatality. Play streets have contributed a great deal to the success of the scheme. Investigation showed an enormous number of accidents to children while playing in the streets. Salford, therefore, began the experiment by closing 'lB streets to vehicular traffic. To-day 169 are so closed, and pedal cyclists, who, it was found, were responsible for M per cent of the accidents, are also excluded. Major Godfrey recognises, of course, that plav-streets are not an ideal or an adequate sulv stituto for playing-fields, but when Salford was planned, open spaces were not thought of. In addition to playstreets, the children of Salford are taught roadsense on a sound system in their schools. The police themselves give them illustrated lectures. Gooil use is also made of the cinema, and Major Godfrey has brought the assistance that can be given by parents well into the schemo. Periodically, pamphlets are sent to the parents informing them of the progress of the measures that have been taken for the safety of their children, and asking them to "help, too, by instructing them, not only occasionally, but continually," to be very careful of traffic danger#*