INSPECTION SYSTEM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 197, 23 August 1935, Page 6

INSPECTION SYSTEM

DEADENING INFLUENCE EDUCATIONISTS’ VIEWS. WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. ( Per Press Association ) In an interview, Mr. William Gray, formerly a well-known figure in the New Zealand educational world, but for the past 25 years head of the Pres byterian Ladies’ College at. Melbourne, one of the largest secondary schools in Australia, mentioned among other things the matter of inspection of schools. Ho said that his observations of the ticiol of education the world over had led hint to the conviction that far too much was made of the inspection system. A revaluation of the whole system of school inspection was lung overdue, and was coining. This did not apply only Iq New Zealand and Australia. He said that a triennial inspection should be sufficient. Once, they had good teachers properly trained, they should be left practically a free hand. This everlasting inspection tended to develop into routine work, and had a deadening influence. A. triannial systed of inspection would certainly lessen the administration expenses.

Mr. Gray holds the view that there should be in every large town a normal school, staffed by selected teachers; also, every large city should have a training college for secondary school teachers, not necessarily combined with the work of the normal school.