FROM SCHOOL TO 'VAKSITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11407, 26 April 1899, Page 3

FROM SCHOOL TO 'VAKSITY.

A NEW COMMERCIAL EDUCATION SCHEME. '. '.. Newly two years ago the Technical Education Board of: the. London County Council appointed a special sub-committee with instructions to report- on the subject of commercial education ; and this committee lias now drawn "up. a long report based upon an exhaustive and careful inquiry. Among the numerous recommendations of the committee —most of them.of a thoroughly practical character—are the following = — ■■ ' . 1. That to meet the needs of those who enter business offices about the age of fourteen, day continuation schools are required, which should give ,a . two years' course of training specially adapted for commercial life; -and- that some of the beard's junior".- county ■ .scholarships should be tenable at such schools.

2. Second-grade departments in many of the public secondary day schools should be established. These should devote themselves primarily to the preparation for commercial life of boys who will,leave school at sixteen ; special attention.; being given to modem languages in such a way as to turn nut pupils able to speak and correspond fluently in at least two modern languages; to the teaching of-arithmetic so as' tL-secure perfect facility .in the, use of the metric system ; and to ensuring a good general acquaintance with, the commercial geography of foreign countries. 3. In at least two.public secondary day schools of the. first grade a department should be formed' devoting itself I'lliii'irily to the preparation for business life of boysleaving school at eighteen.'or.nineteen. The curriculum of such department, should notlead up to a classical or -mathematical career at the universities, but should qualify its pupils either to enter the higher ranks/of commercial life or to pursue an advanced course of study in the economic and commercial 'faculty.l of the new London' University, pi f£n other institutions of higher commercial education. ■ . : 4. A certain number of intermediate county scholars should hold their scholarships in the commercial departments of second-grade arid first-grade schools, when such departments have been established.. 5. Pull and express recognition should be given to higher commercial education in the reorganisation of London University. 6. A certain, number of senior county scholars should go through a university course in subjects of higher commercial education ; and, in addition, travelling scholarships should be offered to enable teachers of some experience to study in higher commercial institutions abroad, in order io qualify, themselves as teachers of commercial subjects. . '. The sub-committee also make a series of recommendations' witli a view to carrying these proposals out, They suggest as weli that efforts should be made by the board to extend, improve, and co-ordinate the teaching of commercial subjects in evening classes.