COMMISSION ON EDUCATION.

West Coast Times, 15 June 1912, Page 3

COMMISSION ON EDUCATION.

TELEGRAMS.

EVIDENCE BY ' WELL-KNOWN AUTHORITIES., .COMMISSION ASKS MONTH’S EXTENSION OF TIME. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.’ DUNEDIN, June 14. The Education Commission sat here to-day. It was decided to ask the Minister for a month’s extension of time.

Professor White, Principal of the Training College, objected strongly to the introduction of a large number of subjects into tho primary school course. The result was a lack of thoroughneos. There were too many once-a-weok subjects; those latter having little true educative value. Under the present syllabus the fundamentals were being losjggSit of. The cc.-ordination of a failure, while tho coiicertipKfftnE of subjects have been absoluTOMpß; failure. Several subjects were begun too early in primary school-life. Formal writing should be elementary from the infant classes. The same applied to history. There was room for cutting down the syllabus work and far more time was required for study. There should he no written composition in Standard II ami he would de-limit the amount of

subjects taught, and would omit independent subjects, such as nature study, because as now taught it was illusive and deceptive. They were attempting to train too early in this. As to science, whilst only ono or two sciences were formerly taught now the tendency is to teach all “'clogies” in a kiml of way. Science in elementary should be relegated to secondary schools or only taught after passing Standard VI. Handicraft should be separated from manual technical. An attempt to co-ordinate certain forms

of manual work with drawing had interfered considerably with the instruction in drawing, to tho great disadvantage of the latter, which ought to form tho basis cf industrial training. Certain forms of manual work ought to ho postponed till the boys a.vn] gii-ls went to the secondary schools. There was a want of contin-

iv-ry about manual instructions. Agriculture should-find no place in the. primary school course, but should bo strictly confined to tho High Schools, r.r.d then passing the pupils into tho highest agricultural colleges like Lincoln. If there was money to spare, it ought to be devoted to increasing the salaries of the teachers in the small schools. He favoured compulsory continuation. classes, but instruction might be restricted therein to ono class oi siudy in lien of a course. Physical training should bo made compulsory.

Tho Chief Inspector, Mr. P. Gogon, declared that the Dominion does not receive that increased efficiency comiritnsnratod with the cost. This was

dn-> to tile multiplication of governing bcdics, and tho overlapping of tho subjects taught in the same area producing a waste of monch - .. The energies in tho day and technicals schools, which.

wore, unnecessary, were competing wita the high school. No one should h p allowed at a secondary school unless they wore prepared to complete a two years course at least. Such pupils were now costing over £IO,OOO in two years in technical schools. There was a considerable leakage of pupils who did not-complete the course and there was a similar leakage in primary schools between Standards 111 an I VI. together with a considerable Waste in teaching manual subjects. The removal of hrushwork, etc., from the lesser standards in the primary school would give needed attention to fundamentals and necessary courses to enable the crildrcn to fight their way through the world.