SCHOOL ACE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14145, 17 June 1920, Page 5

SCHOOL ACE.

MINISTER SUGGESTS INCREASE IMPORTANT REFORMS. I The extension of the .sc-hool age was -one of the matters mentioned by the Minister of Education (Hon C. J. .Parr) when addressing the Council of Education yesterday. The primarfy system, said Air Parr, was founded 43 •years ago, and since then surprisingly few changes had been made in it. Educational knowledge, however, had made very great progress during the period, ami New. Zealand could not afford to lag behind. Dr. Fisher, the Alinister in Charge of Education in. Britain, had secured legislation extending the school age to sixteen years with daytime continuation classes beyond that. The Alotherlaml had advanced faster than the Dominions in educational matters.

New Zealand must legislate soon,said the Alinister, to extend the school ago to sixteen yea,vs. If Britain could -do that New Zealand could do it. If that were .lone, the :£ leineutary period could be reduced to end at 12 years of aire, and the years between 12 and 16 could be used for more advanced instruction. That second period had been disregarded to a large extent in Now Zealand, although it was vitally important. Some children would, be slower than others, and hard and fast rules could not lie laid down; but if the bulk of the .children completed the primary course at, the age of 12 years, Cline'-of them could- then go to the high schools) ’some to the technical schools, and- others to central schools, which would require-to be established. These central schools would train the intelligence, while; at the same time giving specialised forms of instrueion in relation to the requirements, of their future occupations. Limitations of teaching strength and accommodation had to be- recognised, but -they were being overcome, and .the Department might- be able shortly to make aii experiment oil the lines he had suggested. The governing idea would be an elementary course to the age of 12 years, with a general or vocational course up to the age of 15 or 16 years.