SOVIET EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22823, 2 September 1937, Page 15

SOVIET EDUCATION

Sir, —Reading the recent letter of Mr. L. N. James reminded me of what Dr. John A. Dewey, professor of education ,in Columbia University, wrote in his book, "Characters and Events," regarding Soviet schools he visited in Leningrad. Dr. Dewev found a keenness to learn, due to the life work of tho pupil being close to his school life in a way not possible in a capitalist order. Tho power of Soviet education to transform into useful citizens children from the lower depths, vagabonds and homeless, was shown when lie visited a school in which at first its occupants had smashed everything in sight and reach. I myself visited at Stalingrad on Volga a children's institute. Under manual training one noted carpentry and joinery, printing, studied with a working press, a model tractor, of working size. Music, including curious folk instruments, and the ballet, were taught, children drew, while a cinema recorded their movements, nature study ranged from this earth to the study of the outer world with a fine stellar telescope, and a small cinema theatre showed both sound and silent films. ' Such an institute ranges, of course, away from the elementary school routine, but wliils the Soviet Union can enrich the lives of-children with such a* culture course it certainly deserves the praise Mr. James gives it, lleg. Cottle.