EDUCATION CHANGES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17425, 25 November 1930, Page 4

EDUCATION CHANGES

DIRECTOR’S COMMENT VALUE OF CONSOLIDATION . (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last, night. The opinion that in certain eases the ■primary school course can even now ho concluded at the age of 1.1, or after the pupil lias passed standard IV. has been formed by the Director of Education, Mr. T. R. Strong, who has returned to Wellington alter a tour of every education district in the. Mouth island, accompanied by Mr. A. Bell, assistant director. Mr. Strong undertook the tour with the object of investigating the possibility of putting into effect, certain recommendations of the recess Committee of Education, and he is to draw up a report on the findings for presentation to the Minister.

One of the questions receiving immediate. attention relates to the introduet ion of the ‘’eleven plus’’ system, under which a primary school pupil will pass into a. secondary school at the ago of 11 years, or after passing standard IV. This means that the present forms 1 and 11, formerly known us standards \ and VI. would no longer he part- of the primary school. They would he, incorporated in the secondary school, tho advantage claimed for this system being that there would not. occur a break in instruction which is liable to hinder real progress.

Under the present usage of recent years, such subjects as French, Latin and algebra have been taught by some primary schools in classes wlihli would in former times not have been undertaken until 11 io pupil had reached tho secondary school status. Objection to this method has boon that forms I and II in a primary school arc. not sufficiently linked with tho secondary school, so as to provide continuity of instruction and teaching interest, and it is claimed that the introduction of tho “eleven phis’’ system would give tins continuity in far greater measure. Discussing the. subject to-day, Mr. Strong said be was i,f opinion that tho system could he introduced in some disci ist ricts lie visited, where it would involve little or no extra cost.

Inquiry is also being made into the question of consolidating schools in country districts, and Mr. Strong said he had found that, many districts were, keen to bring about a form of consolidation as outlined in the committee’s report. Under the present system one. teacher in a country school might, bo controlling and teaching eight- classes from primers to standard -V. If, as under the consolidation scheme, surrounding schools were* done a way with, ami tho available teaching power marshalled, mu- school remaining to servo the district would he conducted along tlm lines of a, city institution, with resultant benefit to pupils arising from the ability of teachers to give more limn to the parti'tilar classes.