NEW SCHOOLS’ SYLLABUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3911, 26 February 1929, Page 17

NEW SCHOOLS’ SYLLABUS.

THE DEPARTMENT CRITICISED.

_. . AUCKLAND, February 20. Opinions that too hurried an attempt had been made to bring the new education syllabus into operation were expressed at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board. At the end of half an hours debate it was decided to send on to the Education Department at Wellington a strong protest which was received from the Waimauku School Committee._ Mr Snell opened the discussion by asking the chairman (Mr A. Burns) whether he could give any information regarding the availability of school books. Ihe chairman replied that he could not. He thought the department had been trying to do too much in a short time, and it would have been far better advised to have delayed the new syllabus until a later date. He had been informed that some of the teachers were just carryuif on temporarily; with the old books. There was a serious shortage, because the manufacturers simply had not the time to get the new books ready, and the present position was one of much confusion. Mr M’Phail: There, have been some complaints about the quality of the Looks. Mr Burns: Yes, the whole trouble seems to have been in trying to bring about a complete reorganisation of the methods upon the reopening of the sch.'ols this month. Mr Snell: It shakes one’s confidence in the ability of the department to manage its affairs..