SCHOOL WORK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8612, 24 December 1913, Page 11

SCHOOL WORK

THE PRIMARY SYLLABUS STIFFENING THE PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION. Amended regulations as to the organisation, inspection and examination of public schools and tho syllabus of instruction have been issued. Under them a rearrangement of the primary school syllabus is effected which will como into operation at the beginning of tho coming year. Formerly the syllabus was loaded up with optional matter hy way of suggestions. Tho new syllabup contains everything that is imperative and ■ill suggestions, always valuable to teachers when framing tho course, have been placed in an appendix which may bo added to from time to time as good ideas come along. The first portion of the syllabus relates to the organisation, inspection and examination of schools. Hero the most material change is in a revised definition of what constitutes a proficiency certificate. Undoubtedly tho requirements mean a stiffening of tho examination. They emphasise the value of English subjects and drithmetio, and provide also for more or less definite evidence of satisfactory attainments in other subjects of the primary school course such as geography, history, drawing and handwork, or at least three of these subjects. Difficulty has been experienced in securing uniformity in the standard of these proficiency certificates. The percentage of passes varies greatly in different districts, but tho regulations have been framedto partly overcome the difficulty by their clearness. A new departure is in tho direction! of more definitely encouraging the grouping of classes. Schools are to be divided into three divisions, the preparatory (as before), the junior (Standards I. and II.), and senior, consisting of the higher classes. Within these divisions the arrangement of standards is still retained, but it is expected that particular programmes of work will be shared by all tho children in a group, instead of individuals having to take .a small portioneach year. Tho changes in the syllabus are not very material, hut the details have been revised, and the views of . many persons concerned, including inspectors and the Teachers’ Institute, havo been considered. In needlework and singing tho programmes are not mado an imperative part of the regulations, but are embodied in tho “suggestions,” and have been drawn up in consultation with experts. Under the old syllabus tho only provision for the teaching of geography was that a reader should be intelligently used, but it has been decided for the future that in both history and geography there must he definite lessons, and the teacher will be required to draw up a programme.