THE SCHOOL AGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12409, 29 August 1918, Page 5

THE SCHOOL AGE.

NEEff FOR EXTENSION;

ADDRESS BY MR 0. T. ASCHMAN.

At the annual meeting of the Can- ;■ terhury Employers’ Association last, evening an address was delivered by Mr C. T, Aschman, president of the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, on . “.Some : Phases of the Educational Needs -of - To-day.” ■ Mr Aschman, in the course of his re- A marks, dealt with the need f6r a public spirit in respect to education, and the need for an extended post-primary course of education. The fact that'such an important and representative body had invited the speaker to say something on the subject of education wa& evidence of a beginning of the awaken-' „• ing of public interest on the subject. ' The New Zealand Educational Institute ' was taking the fullest advantage of all such opport unities. There' was a danger, in leaving education entirely to the academic mind, that purely aca- •. domic standards of success would be adopted in the schools, standards which would not ensure success in later life. A Iho schoolmaster’s estimate of a “ cle- ' ver boy” was often very different from " that of the outside world. He did not advocate a curriculum designed' by businessmen. That work was better ‘ performed by the educational experts, but these should be advised by the commercial and industrial experts as to whether the product of the schools was adapted to their requirements. To use ■ an illustration, the users of a manufactured product might know nothing of the processes of manufacture, but the wise manufacturer would always ■■■; listen to the consumers when these pointed out that the product-did: not suit their requirements. The speaker ■ made a strong plea for an extension of the school age. From either the utilitarian or spiritual standard the need for more education was indisputable. Was it not possible that the A balance between Labour and Capital would be made more stable by giving the youth of the community a* broader outlook? The time for choosing a vocation should be placed later than at present, and children should be sent into the world better equipped, to a§sume the responsibilities of a vocation than was at present the case. The curriculum in the extended school. . period must give a training not only for the work hut for the leisure of life. The importance of training for leisure couid not be over-estimated. At prosent many children were turned out of the schools with no idea of how to occupy their leisure moments, save by idling them away, and this had,its deleterious effect on the working hours The man was more than the workman. For schools to turn out efficient workmen was a meaner end than to turn out men of well-founded character.

Every child not only had a right to the intellectual inheritance of the race* but could not live without it. Labour and Capital would only arrive at'harmony when the narrowness and prejudice on both sides were dissipated, and better education was the best moans of bringing this about. The course of training the speaker had in view should he purely pre-vocational. The longer the choice of a vocation could bo postponed, the better- Vocational technical education could' then follow, on as scientific and efficient lines as possible; hut tho development or character and personality must coma first in time and in importance.

Mr F. W. Hobbs said that the asset, elation had never listened to a more interesting or valuable address than that given by Sir Aschmnn. They all owed a deep debt of gratitude to the IDducacational Institute and the Education Conference at present sitting for stimulating public interest on the subject of education. Personally, judging by Ids own boys, the speaker considered that, while the present primary system was, all things considered, a good and suitable one, the secondary system was not nearly as satisfactory. There seemed

to be no instruction in citizenship, and ho was pleased to hear Mr Ascliniaa say that, this defect would be remedied in his proposed post-primary course. Ho moved a hearty vote of thanks tp

Mr Aschmau for his illuminating and stimulating address.

Mr ]>. Jones seconded the motion, and said that Mr Aschmau had probably relished the opportunity of impressing his views on so many fa theft* of families. The speaker expressed the opinion that the consolidation of country schools, discussed recently by the Education Conference, would do much to help education in rural districts.

The chairman (Mr A. F. Drayton) suggested that the association should discuss the matters brought forward by Mr Aschmau at a general meeting at an early date.

The motion was carried by acclamation.