EDUCATION TO-DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22629, 22 July 1935, Page 6

EDUCATION TO-DAY

[ TO THE EDITOR I Sir, —Your educational leader in Satur--1 day's issue was to my mind very much to the point. Permit me, as a parent who has seen six children pass through school and has two more now passing, to give his view as applied to schools in general. To me those responsible for the present curriculum were not people of vision. The dead hand of past history" and languages particularly should be swept away. The waste of valuable tinie on these is pitiable; Take the average school of say, 500 pupils. One per cent, of the pupils may in after life require a knowledge of past history. Then, why waste the precious time of the 99 per cent? Ten per cent, may require a knowledge of dead languages. Then, why waste the time of the 90 per cent? Moreover, have we not other facilities in this city for acquiring a knowledge of these subjects? I have no objection to home lessons, but should these subjects enter they will promptly go on the fire, and Ishall tell my boy to produce his meccano set, as it will at least be constructive. I realise that one has no right to displace unless prepared to replace with something that in his opinion is better. Therefore, I suggest lectures that would be of more general benefit. Take, for instance, one on good citizenship. It would perhaps do something to arrest the vandalism and false fire alarm that is so prevalent to-day. Another suggestion: Let every headmaster procure from the Town Hall copies of the city by-laws. There is a useful field here. The effect or exploring it might be to lessen the flow at the Children's Court.

Less mass production and more individual tuition should be striven for. I read that a high official is proceeding to other countries to acquire up-to-date knowledge, and none too soon.—l am, etc., H. E. Alderton. Harbour terrace, July 20.