EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 11

EDUCATIONAL AMENDMENT

JS SERVICE GIVEN' I'GK COST’ DISCUSSION TN UPPER HOUSE. By Telegraph.-—Press -Association. • Wellington, Last Night. In- the Legislative Council to-day the Education Amendment Bill, of the Hou. G. M. Thomson was reported from the Education Committee with amendments. Seven days’ leave of absence was granted Sir Thomas MaeKenzie on account of illness. Discussing the amnia) education report, the Hon. G. Al. Thomson criticised the section of the new syllabus dealing with nature study and said that while it was very admirable it rather overshot the mark. The majority of students were not sufficiently trained to enable the subject to be properly taught. He stressed the importance of developing the observational facility in the child and suggested more importance should be devoted to nature study as an examination subject. The time given to classic languages in secondary schools could be better imed for foundational work in other directions. While commending the idea of draining children for their future occupations Mr. Thomson remarked that unfortunately in too'many eases they had no choice but had to go out and earn a living as best they could. He deplored, the atmosphere of snobbery in some of the high schools at the expense of the technical schools, and said they should be placed on the same basis. The junior high school system he regarded as an expensive experiment which could be well replaced by an adjustment of th? higher classes in the primary schools. The Hon. J. Barr agreed that secondary departments should not lie allowed to overshadow the technical. He thought value was not at present being given for the annual education expenditure. In regard to child welfare he advocated (ho co-ordination of the social services carried out by the various institutions and the establishment of a- separate department to administer that phase of the work. The Hon. V. H. Heed also complained that service was not being given for the education expenditure, particularly in the country districts. In many cases teachers were overpaid for the services they rendered. There had been no real advance in educational facilities in the country districts in the last 30 years. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. A. S. Malcolm and the Council rose until Wednesday next.