LARGE CLASSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16373, 22 June 1927, Page 3

LARGE CLASSES

MASS TEACHING.A DANGER. CRITICISM AT INSTITUTE MEETING "If we had smaller classes we could cover the Whole work in one. year less than we are doing now, stated Mi'. L. F. de Berry at the Educational Institute meeting at Palmerstou North. Mr. de Berry was speaking before Messrs. J. A. Nash and J. Linklatei", M.P.'s, on "one of the greatest problems of the day, a tremendous social matterthe question of the size of classes in schools." In New Zealand, stated the speaker, there were about 200,000 children—2oo,ooo separate individualities and personalities. But with tho present system of teaching aloiig mass liues it was impossible to develop all to the highest degree of capability. There were in a class of, say, 60, some who were naturally bright, and there wore many of not tho average mentality. It was these latter who were being dragged at the chariot wheels of mass teaching and, consequently, becoming more and more discouraged. They could not get tho individual attention which was their right. They were simply being treated as a cog in a machine.

"In 1921 every class of a school having six teachers or more averaged 44, and 35 for all schools jft the Dominion. Foui' years later tho. average sine of a class for six teachers or more WaS 43, and the average for all other schools 32. . The institute has laid it doWn as its policy that the maximum class bo 35, and ultimatelv 30, but at the present rate wo will tie down to 30 in half a century. There are very nearly 1000 classes in •New Zealand that have over 50 children. "You may be told that there are not sufficient teachers. A little while ago the authorities that be deprived every grade six and seven school in New Zealand of a young teacher. If these teachers were reinstate 4 it would help to reduce tho size of the classes aiid absorb those leaving the training colleges and unablo to obtain positions." "I have always held the opinion, and have advocated it in the House, that there should be no class of children over 40 in New Zealand," stated Mr; Nash.