SCHOOL CURRICULA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20607, 22 December 1936, Page 9

SCHOOL CURRICULA

REVOLUTIONARY REFORMS PROPOSED

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright

(Received December 22, 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 21

"The Morning Post” says that revolutionary reforms in the preparatory school curricula, which are calculated to affect the whole educational system are proposed in a report before the Preparatory Schools’ Association. The essential pointe include reduction of the number of subjects, the teaching of geography, history and English as a composite whole, greater emphasis on arte and handicrafts, and the postponement of Latin and French until the age of at least 11 years. The report of a sub-committee, consisting of principals and headmasters, describes the accepted curricula as designed for the scholar rather than the normal boy. It is also inadequate as a preparation for life. The report advocates the co-ordination of subjects in order to illustrate and to connect one with another, adding that the present curricula consists of over many unrelated subjects, introduced from time to tme in order to meet the demands of public opinion. The report expresses the opinion that an examination, designed to test knowledge instead of intelligence, are harmful, and suggests that scholarship examiners should seek boys with a creative instinct rather than potential university scholars.