MODERN EDUCATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 145, 22 June 1939, Page 10

MODERN EDUCATION

TRENDS AT WANGANUI INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL ADDRESS TO OPTIMISTS’ CLUB. “To-day it is being recognised mon than ever before that if the personal! ties and individualities of our childrei are to be developed as they should, much greater freedom must, be giver to both teacher and taught,” said Mi J. B. Bennett, M.A., of the Wanga nui Intermediate School, in an addres. to the Wanganui Optimists’ Club. “J was in conformity with this deskthat a short time ago the proficiency examination was abolished.” The method followed by the Wan ganui Intermediate School recognise!

that the child had a three-sided nature, and if the complete personality was to be educated attention must b? given to the mental, physical and spiritual development. Accordingly the school was organised with this in view’. When children first come to the school they were given certain entrance tests, so that their mental ■ capacity might be gauged. This, in conjunction with information from their last school, and the desire expressed by parent and child as to the probable vocation to be followed, enabled the pupils to be classified in homogeneous groups. In the Wanganui School there are five groups. Mr. 11 Bennett said that each of these I groups was given work suitable to its I capability. -i In the child’s physical education all | took part in sports, the boys in footI ball, cricket, baseball and cross-coun i try runs, and tennis; the girls in ’I basketball, baseball, rounders and tennis, while all took their share in 11 swimming and life-saving. To foster '; a healthy spirit of rivalry the school ; was organised into four houses, ’■all the school activities counting toI wards the contest for the honours ■ board, said Mr. Bennett. In further- ’ ; ance of the spiritual development ol the children, the school is opened dailx ' i with prayer, while on Thursday a • visiting clergyman gave instruction. "'The children all belonged to some , i club in which they are interested. i Thus dramatic, knitting, physical cul- !! hobby craft, model aeroplane i construction, nature study, art and ! music clubs had been formed.