HEADMASTERS’ DINNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1005, 23 June 1930, Page 14

HEADMASTERS’ DINNER

FREEDOM UNDER SYLLABUS NOT USED TIMIDITY OR DIFFIDENCE? Disappointment at the failure of I teachers to take full advantage of the freedom allowed them under the new primary schools’ syllabus was expressed by Mr. X. T. Lam bourne, assistant-chief inspector, speaking at the Auckland Headmasters’ Association’s annual dinner on Saturday evening. The president, Mr. T. Turbott, presided over a large attendance. Responding to the toast of the Education Department, Mr. X. T. Lambourne said that great changes had marked the latter years of the halfcentury of public education just completed. The fact that the teachers had not taken full advantage of the freedom under the new syllabus during the past year was, perhaps, caused by their natural timidity to change from the course to which they were accustomed, or possibly to their diffidence. As a departmental officer, Mr. Lambourne expressed the hope that those headmasters, who had the opportunity besides the necessary accommodation and staff would introduce into the curriculum of their schools some new method of teaching, organisation or classification. The opinion that New Zealand lagged far behind other countries in reorganising its education system, was expressed by Mr. F. A. Garry, in proposing the toast of “Members of Parliament.” While he upheld the amount spent on education, he said he knew that many headmasters contended that full value was not being obtained. and that reorganisation might produce better results. Agreeing that the education system was obsolete. Mr. IT. G. IT. Mason, M.P., said that a conservative attitude toward changes had been induced, because people had thought the system was so good it would be spoiled by alterations. Mr. G. C. Munns, M.P., expressed the view that headmasters of primary schools were shockingly underpaid. He sincerely hoped the education vote would not bo reduced, and promised to endeavour to avoid this contingency. The toast of “The Inspectors” was proposed by Mr. W. Edgerley and responded to by Mr. J. Robertson.