PRESENT-DAY EDUCATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 67

PRESENT-DAY EDUCATION.

UNFAVOURABLE CRITICISM. "(Feom Onß Own Cobbespondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 11. A short discussion on some defects of the present-day educational system arose at the meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board to-day. Attention was drawn by Dr C. J. Russell to the unfavourable comments made in the last annual report of the board's inspectors with regard to the degree of proficiency in recitation shown in the public schools. Mr C. H. Opie, who was once a teacher in the service of the board, said the question was a very important one. 'mere were university graduates who took the very highest honours, and yet practically murdered the English language. Adjectives in particular were very much misused by '• educated " people. For instance, one often heard "educated" people—he would like to have been .able to say " cultured" people—using such expressions as "We had a frightful frost," or " She had a frightful hat on." Though he admitted that the adjective used in the latter remark did apply correctly to fome of the headgear worn by ladies nowadays, more attention should be given to ascertain the correct meaning of words, their proper pronunciation, and use. Mr W. R- Smith urged that too many subjects were being introduced into the schools, and too much time devoted to "fine points." He did not believe that one person in 10—and jt was questionable if one in 20 —could speak English. The old system which qualified boys Or girls to take up occupations to carry tbem through life properly -was the best. He believed that the present-day system was not doing that. Not one boy in 10 was capable of going into ah office ana doing the ordinary work he would be set tx> dp there. The whole system, to-day was a system of oram, and every, year they were putting something fresh the syllabus for the boys and girls to learn. It was resolved—" That the board concurs ■with the inspector's remarks, and trusts that in future mow attention will be £J?sn by teachers to the subject of elocution.