THE RIGHT SPIRIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1932, Page 4

THE RIGHT SPIRIT.

There has been more public discussion of the Dominion’s education system during the past twelve months than for very many years. Experts, real and selfappointed, have aired their opinions, politicians have taken a hand, and the result has been a kindling of public interest which has had its good as well as its less desirable effects. The last few days have seen the wind-up of the school year, and, as usual, it has given an opportunity for the expression of opinions by those who > are voluntary workers in the school system as well as by those who are experts in pedagogy. So far as .Taranaki is concerned, the speeches have been most refreshing. From the smallest country school committee to the local controlling authority of the largest secondary schools the same note has been struck in the addresses to school pupils and their friends. There has been manifested a keen desire to give pupils every possible opportunity; to extend the curriculum in branches of learning which will give pleasure as well as material advantage, and of these the efforts towards musical- training among the primary school pupils deserve the warmest commendation; the desire to break down old prejudices in regard to manual training as compared with academical; above all, the call to young New Zealand to be of good cheer, to accept undaunted the harsher days that have come, to believe they are nqt permanent, and to work hard so that by better selfequipment they may hasten the return of prosperity to the Dominion. In the majority of cases the speakers have been themselves the product of New Zealand’s education system. If it has enabled them to take a sane view of life in dark as well as in brighter days, if it has enabled them to determine that the chilr dren of the day shall lose no opportunity of sound training because there is less money to spend upon education generally, most of all, if it is enabling them to practice the virtues of thrift, application and cheerfulness which they have urged upon others, then the Dominion’s education policy has been justified by results.