PRIMARY EDUCATION

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 56, 4 May 1928, Page 5

PRIMARY EDUCATION

NEW SYLLABUS ISSUED. NO RADICAL ALTERATION. MORE RAPID PROGRESS". ' (Special to Post). WELLINGTON, This Dliy. The Minister of Education, Hon. R. A. Wright, announced to-day that the new syllabus of instruction for [Primary Schools had been: in preparation for some time was now ready. The Minister said that the new syllahus was not to come into operation until next year but was being). issued at this early date in Jbrder lubafc teachers might .bccoino familiar with its contents.

light was uthrown on the cage by a INTO CLOSER TOUCH*, i TJtfc Minister 5 , totlher staid: ''The present syllabus has been in force for eight years, and great changes in educational thought and practice have taken place since it was issued. Educationists the world over arc urging the desirability of bringing the . schools into closer touch with the life of people. Greater stress is being, laid on education of a practical typo, but at the same time the new syllabus is more brdully cultural than any of its predecessors. A further aim isi to bridge the gap between the primary and the secondary .schools by introducing in a very gradV ual and very simple manner in th& '' higher primary school classes . the: 'elements of so-called secondary sub'|ectsi. j

ADVANCE! OF Provision has been m/wle for the rapid advance from, class to class of pupils who are able'to progress more quickly than their fellows, so that the reproach of retarding the brilliant child will no longer be levelled at the primary schools. Afc the same time, suppleihentarjf coursles are provided' to enable pupils who jaro more brilliant in one subject than in afiother to lidvanee along the lines of their special aptitudes. ..' FREEDOM FOR TEACHERS. The fullest freedom will be given teachers to modify the syllabus lin, any reasonable manner in accordance., with the needs of their pupil, s or the character of the district in which they are sfituated. Encouragement will also be given to teachers to adopt the most advanced methods of teaching and to take their teaching as practical as possible. It is recognised that the {adoption of the most modern methods of individual teaching depends largely on the provision of adequate accommodation and reduction in the size of classes. In both these directions improvements are being effected as rapidly as the finances of the country, permit. The adoption of the new syllabus willOnot necessitate any radical alterations in the, general organisation of .the■ primary school system. Provision will, be made for the establishment of a 'Standard VII or Formi 111. class in, certain prima,ry schools for the benefit of puptils who, after passing through Standard VI or Form? II are not prepared to stay a sufficient; length'of time in a second L ary school to warrant their embarking upon a, purely secondary course of education.

CONTINUITY SECURED. Such, a class will also be of benefit to pupils, who, for economic reasons, have to seek employment soon 'after passing Standard VI. In this way the gap between the* primary schools arid technical school evening classes will be bridged and continuity in the leduttaftyional pilocess secured. ' Provision Will also be made as circumstancaa permit for pupils of Standards V and VI. who are prepared to stay V sufficient length of time in a secondary school or technical high school to transfer there tafter passing Standard IV. I do nob favour the establishment of separate Juniior High Schools to accommodate pupils of V, VI, and YU. (Forms I, H and III) as institutions of that typo result in two breaks in the child's school life. By attaching the higher primary classes to post-prim-ary schools there will be only one break. Such a scheme will, however, necessitate the establishment of a larger number of post-primary schools which is a very expensive undertaking and advance in this direction, must be very gradual indeed. I do not propose to embark on any forced transference of pupils to the secondary or technical schools at a definite age; but it is intended, as I have indicated above, to provide for more rapid progress through the primary schools by the brighter pupils, so that tihey may rdaoh the secondary schools at an earlier ago than at* present."