SOME CONTRASTS

Southland Times, Issue 21853, 2 November 1932, Page 8

SOME CONTRASTS

EDUCATION SYSTEMS NEW ZEALAND AND SCOTLAND UNIVERSITY TRAINING “I think admirable foresight was shown by the pioneers in establishing New Zealand’s education system which generally is well worthy of praise, though perhaps the cultural side has not been fostered sufficiently. In breadth of opportunity New Zealand children are most fortunate, said the Principal of Columba College, Dunedin (Miss Macintosh), who has been on a brief visit to Invercargill and who, at the request of a Times reporter, consented to compare the New Zealand system with that of Scotland, from which country she came two years ago. In both countries, said . Miss Macintosh, there was a qualifying examination, known in New Zealand as proficiency. From the point of view ot girls this examination occurred at an unsuitable age. The intermediate examination, common also to both countries, took place at a nhich better period in their development. Students sat for matriculation earlier in New Zealand than at Home and the examination here was of a rather lower standard. The same applied to the university entrance examination. Tnere was a tendency in New Zealand to enter the university too young, just as there had been a tendency, until recent legislation had altered the position, of making entrance too easy. Students who went to the university at the age of sixteen or seventeen were really too immature to derive the full benefit of a university education, which was not so much the receiving of instruction as the acquiring of wisdom through friendships, reading, debating and other activities. Those who entered the university too early were finished too soon. To-day more than at any other time New Zealand had to look for its leaders to people with university training. It would be unfortunate if the full benefit of this training were lost through entrance at too early an age. So far as New Zealand training colleges were concerned big bursaries had been given to students, and rather too many had been thereby attracted to the teaching profession. Among the many students some were not natural teachers. The magnet had been too big and one consequence was the large number of unemployed teachers in the Dominion to-day. In Scotland students were not so well catered for either as regards entering universities or training colleges. There was a stiff entrance examination for the university and comparatively small bursaries for training college students. Until the depression had caused modifications New Zealand students required only a higher leaving certificate to obtain a bursary at the university. “I think that every boy and girl should have free secondary education and I think any restriction of this privilege is regrettable,” said Miss Macintosh, “but not all are fitted for a university education. Things should not be made too easy.”

Miss Macintosh said it was to be regretted that no provision was made in the training colleges for definite instruction in secondary school subjects. This seemed an extraordinary omission. She said she considered geography was rather neglected in New Zealand schools. The nations were growing more closely related, more interdependent, and an accurate knowledge of geography was becoming increasingly important. It was gratifying to see that art was being given a greater place in the curriculum. A new country had no art traditions behind it, which was in one way a disadvantage, but which was also an advantage, for it meant that untrammelled development was possible. Very good art work was being done in some of the training colleges. Touching on the education of girls Miss Macintosh said she felt that they had to return to a realization of the dignity of domestic work. Up to a point a general education was necessary so that a wise use could be made of leisure even if an academic career were not followed. But it was important that a girl should be taught to take her place in the home. “To the youth of New Zealand,” concluded Miss Macintosh, “life presents a challenge to-day. In the past everything has come rather easily, but conditions are now different. From my observation of the girls and boys of this lovely country I believe they will emerge triumphant.”