EDUCATIONAL DISPLAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18581, 30 May 1930, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL DISPLAY.

WORK BY SCHOOL CHILDREN. EXHIBITS A REVELATION. Some time ago, Mr S. J. Irwin, Inspector of Schools on the West Coast of the South Island, was instrumental in having a collection of the handwork done by children attending the primary schools in his territory, and work done by the children attending Canterbury and South Canterbury schools, sent round to various districts for exhibition purposes. This collection is now on view at the Timaru Main School, and children from various schools in Timaru are being given ar. opportunity of seeing it. To observers in whose scholastic days there was no evidence of the highly specialised form of instruction in vogue to-day, this display comes as a revelation. Another point in connection with the exhibit is that some work by English school children has been added to it, and this affords the opportunity for a comparison. This latter work is 1 quite good, particularly the drawing, of j which the shading is a feature. It is | not known if this section of the display I is representative of the general stan- 1 dard of the work done in English schools, but should such be the case, it will be readily admitted that the New Zealand system stands out in relief, j The different classes of exhibits are too j numerous to particularise, but the high ; standard of the work, from infants to 1 the upper standards, is such as to com- ! mend in the most praiseworthy terms the ability of the teachers, and the initiative and conception of the children j responsible for an instructive exhibi- I tion. Possibly the most outstanding section of the display is that collected ; and brought from the Mahiri school on the West Coast. This is quite a small institution, but the work done is a testimonial to the lady in charge of this school It takes a wide range from paper work by the little tots, to beaten metal, leather work, rubber work, basket work, fancy work and so on, to penmanship. There is scarcely ari article that does not attract attention. It is wonderful. The other sections comprise handwork by children truly possessing an artistic temperament undeveloped among children years ago. It has only to be remembered that this i gift could not have been brought out i but for the ability and enterprise of j the teachers, and this noble band 1 among the citizens of New Zealand have, and are, doing their duty well and truly. In the process, the moulding of the characters of the children, plays no small part. The citizens of this Dominion of to-morrow will have reason to remember with affection and pride the teachers who are doing so much to fit them for the battle of life. Parents should not allow' this opportunity to see this collection of hand work slip by. It is an education.